Morpheme types in a matrix language turnover: The introduction of system morphemes from English into Pennsylvania German

Abstract

This contribution examines the roles that morphemes of different types, as defined within Myers-Scotton and Jake's 4-M model (2000), play in contactinduced language change. The data examined here are taken from interviews with seven speakers of Pennsylvania German (PG). This paper argues that a turnover of the Matrix Language is in process in PG. Such a turnover involves the gradual replacement of system morphemes of German origin with system morphemes from English. The 4-M model outlines three different types of system morphemes: early system morphemes and two different kinds of late system morphemes, “bridges” and “outsiders.” It is predicted that early system morphemes from English will appear in PG first, and this prediction is supported by the occurrence of plurals and past participles from English in these data. There is no evidence of bridge system morphemes from English, and only isolated instances of English outsider morphemes, indicating that the introduction of late system morphemes from English has not yet taken place.