Noun inflectional classes in Maceratese

This chapter explores the structure of noun inflection in the variety of Macerata (Area Mediana) which shows some distinctive properties with respect to standard Italian, such as internal inflection and a higher number of noun inflectional classes. Based on a description of the primary linguistic data and on the examination of old texts, it focuses on the need for morphological features appropriate for describing this variety, with special attention to their interrelationships and to their relation with phonological and morphosyntactic features. In trying to shed light on this inflectional complexity, a ‘canonical’ approach is taken; inflectional class features and their change are evaluated starting from the most canonical classes in the Maceratese system.

• Affiliations: 1: Zürich