PROSODY OF NOUN COMPOUNDING IN TEMALACAYUCA NGIWA (POPOLOCA)

Abstract

Discussions about the wordhood of compounds have centered on whether the resultant expression constitutes one phonological word or two. In this study, I first describe the morphophonology of compounding in Temalacayuca Ngiwa (Popolocan, Otomanguean; Mexico) and argue that this language requires a distinction between “loose-knit” and “tight-knit” compounds, both of which constitute only one phonological word. Two types of compounds are distinguished by a phonological bond between the components and have syntactic and semantic correlations. I then argue that this distinction represents a difference in linking strategy in compounds.