Definition
A clitic is a morpheme that has syntactic characteristics of a word, but shows evidence of being phonologically bound to another word.
Discussion
A clitic may have a nonclitic alternant.
Examples
(English)
-
The contraction of the morpheme is, as in
- What's going on?
-
The possessive marker 's, as in
- The man in the black coat's book.
Note: Clitics that occur on the last element of a clause will always cliticize to the end of that element.
Comparison
Here is a table that compares and contrasts clitics and affixes:
|
Clitic |
Affix |
|---|---|
|
Functions above the word level syntactically and on the word level phonologically. |
Functions on the word level syntactically and phonologically. |
|
May attach to words belonging to a variety of syntactic categories. |
Attaches to words belonging to a single syntactic category. |
|
May attach to words or whole phrases. |
Attaches to single words. |
|
Occurs at the edge of a word. |
May occur within or at the edges of a word. |
Kinds
More specific concepts within clitic (grammar).
Sources 6
- Payne, T. 1997b
- Crystal 1980, 64
- Hartmann and Stork 1972, 38
- Anderson, S. 1985, 158
- Klavans 1982, 11-14, 74–76, 83, 93–95, 100–101
- Zwicky 1977, 5