GENERAL AND HISTORICAL QUESTIONS OF MORPHONOLOGY

Abstract

The common status and undecided problems of morphonology are considered. Morphonology can be named “cimatry of dead phonetic laws”. Non conditioned by phonology alternations are remained in language because of their functional value: the stems of nominative and oblique cases, of primary and derived words, also temporal and aspectual stems are diff ering by them. An especial attention is paid to ablaut: non conditioned by position alternation of vowels. It was formed primarily by accent movement: The vowel is reduced in non-stressed syllable. In “heavy” syllables (containing two obstruent and a sonorant) the zero vocalism is formed, in “light” ones the timbre of vowel is changed. The ablaut and accent played a great role in Proto-Indo-European morphology. The case and verb forms can be divided into “strong” (with stressed stem), and “weak” (with stressed fl exion) ones. “Strong” nominative, accusative, and locative were independent cases; “weak” genitive and dative – dependent cases. Active and middle voice, indicative and subjunctive voice are diff erent in the same manner. The role of ablaut is connected with the transformation of Proto-Indo-European language state: from isolated into fl exional type.