Reflections of Verbal Syntax in Nominalization and Adjectivization

Reflections of Verbal Syntax in Nominalization and Adjectivization In Distributed Morphology (DM), morphology is seen as a reflection of syntactic processes and requirements. Since DM is an essentially syntax-based approach to word formation processes, and derivation in particular, it assumes the retention of original structure in a given process of derivation where a new form is created. For example, the structure for the verb integrate has to be contained within the structure for the derived noun integration. The question is what constitutes the structure of integrate , and to what extent it is preserved in the structure of the deverbal noun. Following Borer (2003) and Harley (in press), the analysis of the relationships between such related forms reveals important rules governing phrase structure in general. The paper focuses mainly on Polish nominalization and adjectivization data and sets it against similar investigations conducted on English (e. g., Harley in press). The aim of the analysis is to investigate whether the accounts proposed for languages such as English, in the spirit of DM, can be maintained for Polish. The results also add to the general discussion of what part of meaning, or interpretation, should be associated with the lexical root (i. e. lexicon), and what part is inherently structural or functional.