Coordination and Gapping in Words

Abstract

This is a survey entry on a phenomenon whereby sub‐lexical units can be omitted/coordinated, in apparent violation of standard assumptions about Lexical Integrity, which states that syntactic operations cannot access the internal structure of words. What is perhaps most remarkable about the process in question is that it blurs the distinction between syntax and morphology. There are also subtle morphophonological constraints at work which restrict the data in complex ways, such as degree of grammaticalization, sense identity and phonological independence. Section 1 provides an overview of the main empirical facts surrounding the phenomena. Section 2 focuses on cases where initial word‐parts are coordinated/omitted (‘Backward Word Gapping’), highlights its connection to so‐called Right‐Node Raising phenomena, and discusses the various analyses proposed for these constructions in the literature. Conversely, Section 3 focuses on cases where non‐initial word‐parts are coordinated/omitted (‘Forward Word Gapping’), its similarity with Dependent Cluster Coordination, and extant accounts.