Integrative Views on Representations and Processes in Morphology

One of the most enduring conceptualisations of the language architecture rests on a modular subdivision of work between lexical representations of stored items on the one hand, and dynamic processes, modelled as procedural rules working on such items, on the other hand. In morphology, network-based approaches have suggested an alternative "integrative" view of word representations and processes, where lexical representations consist of partially overlapping activation patterns spreading over several processing units. From this integrative perspective, the resulting network is both a lexicon and a word processor. We argue that the network-based view provides a stimulating research framework for several complementary levels of language inquiry (including theoretical, computational and neuro-psychological approaches) to be fruitfully integrated into a novel, comprehensive understanding of morphology. We discuss some implications of this view and delineate prospects of progress in this area.