The lexicalization of the adjective class in indo-european and semitic

The project bridges together historical and typological linguistics. Its main results concern parts of speech (PoS) typology, Indo-European (IE) and Semitic studies, as well as linguistic terminology, theoretical morphology and the history of language science. It is well-know that a cross-linguistically agreed and consistent theory of PoS classification has never been proposed so far. Moreover, quite a few scholars think that such theory is not only lacking at present; rather it is impossible in principle. The project will counter such view bringing in two results. It will: i) propose a new and consistent theory of PoS classification across languages, testing such theory against a balanced variety sample of 60 languages; ii) use such theory to describe two enormous and previously neglected or understudied typological changes at the level of the PoS which occurred in two of the most ancient language families of the world, namely Indo-European and Semitic.

These families were chosen for their long and continuous tradition, which helps identify long-term typological changes. They also exhibit a novel type of change not previously discussed: lexicalization. This term, akin to grammaticalization, describes the emergence of a class of primary adjectival morphemes in a language’s lexicon. Specifically, it refers to the shift of a major part of speech, such as adjectives, from the realm of grammar and word formation to that of the lexicon. This lexicalization process is observed in the adjective class within both families being studied. Identifying changes in linguistic typology will enhance our understanding of general-typological linguistics and enable us to propose a new, cross-linguistically valid definition of the root, a key unit in historical linguistics. Traditionally, the root has been seen as either a diachronic concept, a formal consonantal template, or simply a verb stem with historical roots in Indian or Arabic grammars.

This project aims to challenge these views by demonstrating that the Sanskrit and Arabic root is not merely a formal unit but a lexical morpheme in languages that primarily feature verbal roots and nouns. In these languages, what is typically called an “adjective” is actually a derived stem, a nominalization built from a verb meaning a quality, akin to a verb-like adjective as described by Dixon.