Pounder, AmandaFlynn, Darin MathewTufts, Kody2023-06-262023-06-262023-06Tufts, K. (2023). Dene Sųłiné non-segmental morphology: implications for morphological theory (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.https://hdl.handle.net/1880/116665https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/41508In this thesis, I undertake an analysis of the verbal morphology of Dene Sųłiné (Na-Dene, North-Central Canada) with a specific focus on two inflectional phenomena implementing non-segmental features of tone and nasality to mark distinctions of aspect and agreement. I critique existing accounts of these phenomena, which attempt to reduce both to affixal morphology, and investigate an alternative treatment as processes of non-concatenative morphology. Non-concatenative morphology holds theoretical interest as one of a variety of phenomena provided as evidence for an autonomous Morphology. In light of this interest, I develop and evaluate analyses of Dene Sųłiné’s non-segmental exponents, applying two theoretical frameworks exemplifying a major divide in thinking on morphological theory: Paradigm Function Morphology (PFM) and Distributed Morphology (DM). PFM recognizes an autonomous Morphology, an essential theoretical role for paradigms, and distinctly morphological Rules of Exponence. Conversely, DM posits a basic equivalence of syntax and morphology, recognizes no theoretical status for the paradigm and attempts to restrict morphological exponence to affixation. I test applications of PFM and DM to Dene Sųłiné’s non-segmental exponents, basing analyses on existing data and novel elicitations of Wollaston Lake Dene Sųłiné. Theoretical applications reveal characteristics of these non-segmental exponents challenging accounts in both frameworks. In particular, I identify a noteworthy “look-ahead” problem pertaining to the selection of the tonal exponent. This look-ahead problem seems best characterized as the sensitivity of a less-peripheral exponent to the phonology of a more-peripherally-applying exponent, a situation I argue both frameworks are challenged to address. Novel data from the Wollaston Lake dialect further complicates the account of this exponent’s selection, while also revealing a decreased role for affixation in the verbal morphology, suggesting an increase in the informational load assumed by non-concatenative processes. In addition to the challenges presented to the DM account by the tonal exponent’s formal quality, I present arguments against DM theorists’ claims that Dene surface morphotactics can be reasonably taken to derive from assumed universals of syntactic structure. I ultimately find that the formal and distributional characteristics of these exponents recommend a distinctly morphological account, not a reductionist, “syntacticocentric” one.enUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Dene SųłinéMorphologyParadigm Function MorphologyDistributed MorphologyNon-concatenative morphologyLinguisticsmaster thesis