Eckhard Bick - VISL

2.2.3.3 The suffix lexicon
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suffix base word combi- output suffix suffix
form condition class nation derivation word combina-
condition rules class and
semantics
class tion rules
-ista V asnb DERS -ista smf
-ico VTP sn DERS -ico
[ATTR]
adj
-otico ose s DERS -ico
[ATTR]
adj R
-ei- V saA a- anti- DERS -ear var BC
de- des- ... [CAUSE]
Suffix form is what the program's suffix module cuts off the word or word
trunk it receives as input. One suffix can appear in the suffix lexicon in several
disguises (for example '-inho' and '-zinho'), that are linked by the 'DERS' information
in field 5 (it reads '-inho' even if the look up form is '-zinho'). Like inflexion endings,
suffixes alphabetised in reverse order, because the search mechanism works
backwards from the last letter.
Base condition is either a string, that is added before root search, or contains
other orthographic combination information, like for example 'V', meaning that the
suffix attaches to a root by substituting for any last letter vowel: thus various vowels
are "tried out" when searching for a compatible root. The program must also provide
for phonetic spelling changes at the root-suffix "interface". This is a very complex
task, especially when a front vowel suffix (beginning with an 'e' or 'i' attaches to a
root word ending in 'a', 'o' or 'u', or vice versa. Some neighbouring consonants will
vary in these surroundings in order to keep their phonetic value:
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spelling before spelling before
back vowel front vowel
ç c
c qu
g gu
j g
Also, diphthongs sometimes are substituted as one-vowel-units, sometimes they
receive hiatus and accentuation of the second part, according to the stress pattern of
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