Phonology and morphology glossary

A foot type that dislays a weak-strong stress pattern, as in the Engl. word balloon (cf. trochee).

A group of words whose meaning is not compositional.

Sentence type (or morphological mood) expressing an order, or request.

In contrast to the perfect aspect (see aspect), which expresses the completedness of an action or state, the imperfective is a verb form that expresses an action or state that has not ceased or been completed. In many languages, the imperfective is used only to refer to actions or states in the past, and thus it encodes both tense and aspect.

The relation where the presence of one property in a language is a necessary precondition for the presence of some other property.

A stop consonant formed by creating a vacuum within the mouth, by constricting and lowering the larynx. When the oral constriction is released, with audible plosion, air rushes into the mouth.

Indicates a relationship such that the possessor of an object cannot be changed; body parts are classic examples of inalienably possessed objects.

A deadjectival verb expressing the derivational meaning ‘begin to be Adj., become Adj.’, e.g. English whiten from the adjective white.

Said of first person plural pronouns whose reference includes the addressee. Contrast exclusive.

In mood systems, the mood that expresses that an event is considered as occurring in reality.