associative (adj.)

asterisk (n.)

In LINGUISTICS, a linguistic construction that is UNACCEPTABLE or UNGRAMMATICAL is marked thus by the use of an initial asterisk, e.g. *the man do been go. An asterisked form (or ‘starred form’) is a form which cannot occur in a language, e.g. *walkedn’t.

In GENERATIVE grammar (derived from mathematics), the asterisk is an operator used to indicate any number of instances of a category (including zero); also called a KLEENE STAR. For example, YP* means ‘any number of phrases of any type’.

In linguistic theory, non-CONFIGURATIONAL LANGUAGES are also known as W* (‘W-star’) languages.

In HISTORICAL linguistics, asterisks are used to indicate a form which has been RECONSTRUCTED, there being no written evidence for its existence, as in the sounds and words postulated for Indo-European, e.g. *s, *penk^we (‘five’).

In early AUTOSEGMENTAL PHONOLOGY, an asterisk (also called a ‘star’) marked a segment with a priority ASSOCIATION, resistant to modification by later RULES. The convention is also seen in some approaches to INTONATION, where it identifies a BOUNDARY TONE associated with a stressed syllable: H*, L*.

In OPTIMALITY THEORY, a symbol showing the VIOLATION of a CONSTRAINT.