Zero (linguistics)

Zero (linguistics)

A zero, in linguistics, is a constituent needed in an analysis but not realized in speech. This implies that there is a lack of an element where a theory would expect one. It is usually written "Ø".

There are several kind of zeros.
*A zero morph, consisting of no phonetic form, is an allomorph of a morpheme that is otherwise realized in speech. In the phrase "two sheep-Ø", the plural marker is a zero morph, which is an allomorph of "-s" as in "two cows". In the phrase "I like-Ø it", the verb conjugation has a zero affix, as opposed to the third-person singular present "-s" in "he likes it".
*A zero sometimes works also like a pronoun, as in "nobody knows Ø" and "Ø makes no difference." Likewise, the zero in "the book Ø I am reading" works like the "that" in "the book that I am reading". This is also referred to as PRO.
*A zero article is an unrealized definite article in some languages.
*A zero copula, in which the copula is absent but implied.

External links

* [http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsAZero.htm SIL Glossary of linguistic terms - What is a zero?]


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