Understanding Morphology

by Martin Haspelmath, Andrea Sims

This new edition of Understanding Morphology has been fully revised in line with the latest research. It now includes 'big picture' questions to highlight central themes in morphology, as well as research exercises for each chapter.



Understanding Morphology presents an introduction to the study of word structure that starts at the very beginning. Assuming no knowledge of the field of morphology on the part of the reader, the book presents a broad range of morphological phenomena from a wide variety of languages. Starting with the core areas of inflection and derivation, the book presents the interfaces between morphology and syntax and between morphology and phonology. The synchronic study of word structure is covered, as are the phenomena of diachronic change, such as analogy and grammaticalization.



Theories are presented clearly in accessible language with the main purpose of shedding light on the data, rather than as a goal in themselves. The authors consistently draw on the best research available, thus utilizing and discussing both functionalist and generative theoretical approaches.



Each chapter includes a summary, suggestions for further reading, and exercises. As such this is the ideal book for both beginning students of linguistics, or anyone in a related discipline looking for a first introduction to morphology.

Genres: Linguistics, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Language, School

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Chadi Raheb · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy book to start the morphology with. Seems Haspelmath knows what he's doing :)

[Said Dhimni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, but not very comprehensive.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great compendium of facts and references about morphology.

[هيلين علي]

i

[Khari · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a happy misunderstanding!

Three days ago, I picked up this book once more. I started it at the beginning of COVID because I was supposed to start a PhD program in linguistics in the summer of 2020. They wanted to give me a comprehensive exam, and since I hadn't studied morphology in nearly 10 years, I thought I was due for a reminder.

I finished the chapter yesterday, but since I am no longer faced with comprehensive test, decided I didn't need to do the exercises, I mostly just wanted to finish the book and get it off of my currently reading list.

Lo and behold. This morning I opened it up and discovered that it was the last chapter anyway!

I'm finished with the book! How could I have not realized in 2020 that I only had like 10 pages left!?! I should have just powered through. But alas, I did not.

Anyway, overall impressions. I didn't really like this book. I thought it's tone was pretentious and it overused jargon. It's definitely not a first year or even a first grad school year textbook, because it assumes too much background knowledge like case types, that aren't really explained in the text. They do give you a glossary to help you, but they should also define it in the text and give examples. Maybe they did, and it's just that I had a three year pause between the introductory chapters and the end, but I distinctly remember being frustrated even way back when when I was working through the exercises from the earlier chapters.

A good read in the sense that if you are interested in morphology or it's part of your career, your knowledge will definitely be deepened by this book, but not necessarily a fun, interesting, easy, or accessible read.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good introductory text. More comprehensive and coherent, as well as more decisive, than Laurie Bauer's "Introducing Linguistic Morphology." Wide-ranging linguistic examples enhance a bold an approachable text which introduces arguments in the field without becoming bogged down by them. The one drawback is that the author, while adressing diachronic effects upon a language's morphology, neglects to address the diachronic source of 'morphemes' themselves, whether in the form of affixes or otherwise. This is a question belonging more to the study of grammaticalization, but it wouldn't be out of place in this book.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see others have claimed the opposite, but I personally think this book is perhaps a bit too dense and complicated for an introductory morphology class (like the one I'm in) but it is an excellent resource for those with a slightly better grasp (than me) of introductory morphology and syntax. The use of some "plain English" explanations instead of expecting the reader to have completely memorized the compounding amount of linguistic vocabulary would have been helpful.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the majority of the chapters for my Ling 320 class. This text is very dense and dry in some cases. The homework is sometimes arguable. The only thing I really liked about this book was that the homework solutions are in the back. Also it has a useful index. Overall, not the worst thing I've read.

[Mohammad Aboomar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect introduction to a discipline that was completely new to me! No assumptions about prior knowledge, the book also tries to present various opinions about matters still under debate. The use of various languages to illustrate was also useful.

[zoe natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have been reading it on and off over the last few weeks for my degree (every book helps towards the challenge, though!). It's a simple, but interesting and understandable insight into linguistics and morphology.

[Joonas Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sellest võid kõik elementaarsed ja vajalikud teadmised ja mõisted. On küll väga palju. Sellepärast ei jõudnud A-tasemele viimasel eksamil. Aga kursus, kus on kohustuslik seda kasutada, on küll parim, kuigi kes selle kursuse registreerisin oli vaid mina sel semestril.

[Rahmatun Nisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Yasin Omary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, easy to understand, clearly organized. Printed on cheap paper. I'd take a star off for that, but I got a beat up library copy. With old pencil scratches, dirt smears, and the magic of time working on the gloss finish, it's almost legible under indoor light! Good thing I read it for a winter course; still would have been hopelessly shiny for study boozing in the park.

[Via · Rating 4 out of 5]

i need this book for more knowledge about what and how is morphology

[Memory Card]

its good