Metalinguistic, Shmetalinguistic: The Phonology of Shmreduplication

Abstract

This paper explores English shm- reduplication and aims to answer questions that have previously been left open on the subject. Results from an online survey show emerging patterns that have not been adequately addressed in the literature. It will be shown that shm- reduplication targets prosodic landmarks, syllabic landmarks and the phrasal site of the target of reduplication. Instances of avoidance phenomena will also be discussed and analyzed. The results suggest that shm- reduplication is computed by a grammar that is formed through underdetermined exposure.