Glossary: morphology and phonology

In languages with case, the one likely to be assigned to indirect objects.

A formation whose base is an adjective.

A logarithmic measure of sound power connection to the notion of “loudness.” The decibel (abbreviated Db) is the minimum difference in sound power necessary for the average human to hear a difference.

In mood systems, the mood that indicates that the proposition expressed is an unqualified statement of fact.

In some languages, the inflection of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives for categories such as case, gender, and number.

Gradual intonational pitch fall over the course of an utterance. See also downdrift.

A default rule is a rule that applies in the general case, when no other, more specific rule applies.

A default vowel is a vowel that is inserted, for instance, to break up a consonant cluster. Default means: what happens if no other, more specific circumstances interfere. The quality of such a vowel may differ from language to language (it is often schwa, or barred i, but may also be /e/, or even other vowels).

A type of vowel system, found in relatively few languages, that does not conform to the Vowel Dispersion Principle, either because it lacks open vowels, or because there is an asymmetry of front and back vowels in the mid vowel system.

A phonological rule or process which reduces the length of a geminate consonant to that of a single consonant.