Explanation
An analytically posited morpheme without an audible or visible form. In the atlas, the zero morpheme is explored as a relationship between form, expectation, and effect. It renders absence interpretable as a systematic form.
Example
A grammatical opposition can be marked at a given point by the absence of an ending.
Counterexample
Missing information is not automatically a null morpheme.
Distinction
Missing information is not automatically a zero morpheme.
Effect on thought and perception
The term renders absence interpretable as a systematic form. As a result, a linguistic order that was previously taken for granted becomes perceptible as an active thought process.
Resonance
Resonance arises when a zero morpheme is not only recognized but also experienced in its directional effect between expression, body, context, and interpretation.
Cite this entry
Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Zero morpheme“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-091-028. ATLAS 251, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-091-028The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. A verified modification date per entry is not yet available. Include your access date for precise references.