DEFAULTS IN ARAPESH

Network Morphology is a formally explicit approach to morphology which distributes information across a network in which generalizations can be optimally expressed. Generalizations become available in specific cases by the operation of default inheritance. In this paper we explor e the notion of 'default' in morphology by means of a Network Morpholo gy analysis of the noun classes and genders of Arapesh - a language wh ich relies on a sophisticated understanding of defaults for a satisfac tory treatment (Aronoff, 1992). Our work lends support to Aronoff's ac count of the Arapesh data. It also reveals a confusion in use of the t erm 'default' by linguists. In one usage of the term, the ('normal cas e') default is that which applies in the absence of blocking informati on; in the other, the ('exceptional case') default is that which appli es when some exceptional factors prevent normal processes from applyin g and necessitate the adoption of some 'last resort' solution. Under o ne reading the default equates with the unmarked case; in the other, i t is the marked case which is picked out by the same term.