Language Processing and Acquisition in Languages of Semitic, Root-Based, Morphology: (28 Language Acquisition and Language Disorders)

This book puts together contributions of linguists and psycholinguists whose main interest here is the representation of Semitic words in the mental lexicon of Semitic language speakers. The central topic of the book confronts two views about the morphology of Semitic words. The point of the argument is: Should we see Semitic words’ morphology as “root-based” or “word-based?” The proponents of the root-based approach, present empirical evidence demonstrating that Semitic language speakers are sensitive to the root and the template as the two basic elements (bound morphemes) of Semitic words. Those supporting the word-based approach, present arguments to the effect that Semitic word formation is not based on the merging of roots and templates, but that Semitic words are comprised of word stems and affixes like we find in Indo-European languages. The variety of evidence and arguments for each claim should force the interested readers to reconsider their views on Semitic morphology.

Table of Contents:
1. 1. Semitic languages: Are they really root-based? (by Shimron, Joseph); 2. 2. Semitic verb structure within a universal perspective (by Bat-El, Outi); 3. 3. The verbal morphology of Maltese (by Hoberman, Robert D.); 4. 4. The formation of Ethiopian Semitic internal reduplication (by Rose, Sharon); 5. 5. The role of the imperfective template in Arabic morphology (by Benmamoun, Elabbas); 6. 6. Arabic derivational ablaut, processing strategies, and consonantal "roots" (by Heath, Jeffrey); 7. 7. The 'roots' of denominative Hebrew verbs (by Bolozky, Shmuel); 8. 8. Opacity in Hebrew word morphology (by Schwarzwald, Ora); 9. 9. Lexical organization and lexical access in a non-concatenated morphology (by Deutsch, Avital); 10. 10. When degree of semantic similarity influences morphological processing (by Feldman, Laurie Beth); 11. 11. What is a root?: Evidence from the obligatory contour principle (by Berent, Iris); 12. 12. Root-morpheme processing during word recognition in Hebrew speakers across the adult life span (by Goral, Mira); 13. 13. Children's lexical innovations: Developmental perspectives on Hebrew verb structure (by Berman, Ruth A.); 14. 14. A developmental perspective on root perception in Hebrew and Palestinian Arabic (by Ravid, Dorit); 15. 15. Computing argument structure: The early grammar (by Borer, Hagit); 16. 16. 'Empty' subjects in Hebrew: A developmental perspective (by Levy, Yonata); 17. Index of names; 18. Index of subjects

Review :
This is a well-structured book with a number of excellent chapters on linguistic and psycholinguistic aspects of Semitic morphology. It is obvious that Shimron has succeeded in turning a polarized debate about the nature of Semitic morphology into a fertile ground for linguistic analyses and experimental research that yielded solid if not always coherent findings.