Explaining the structure of case paradigms by the mechanisms of Nanosyntax
This paper looks in detail at the Classical Armenian nominal declension. Ihighlight several generalizations that can be read off the surface paradigms, including restrictions on syncretism, fusional vs.agglutinative expression of categories and the emergence of unexpected thematic vowels. Subsequently, I explain these generalizations within the framework of Nanosyntax (Starke 2009, 2011).
case paradigm nanosyntax classical armenian fusion case syncretism phrasal spell-out agglutination