Affix ordering in Optimal Construction Morphology
This paper sketches an integrated approach to affix ordering within Optimal Construction Morphology, a bottom up, competition based model of word production in which each step of affixation is the optimal choice among competing possibilities (Caballero Inkelas 2013) Optimalitytheoretic models are natural fits for affix ordering, a complex phenomenon governed by a mix of conflicting universal and language specific factors which interact differently in every language. This study covers familiar, global cross linguistic principles such as semantic relevance (e.g. Bybee 1985) and scope (e.g. Baker 1988; Rice 2000) integrating them with local lexical selectional restrictions (e.g. Fabb 1988) it also incorporates usage based factors such as Complexity Based Ordering (e.g. Hay Plag 2004) The study innovates in adding affix informativity to the mix.