Morphological productivity, polysynthesis and the Algonquian verb

In this paper I consider data from Algonquian languages and argue that the concept of morphological productivity is a key tool to determine Algonquian word formation properties and general morphological typology. I focus on lexically-heavy bound components in the Algonquian verb stem, and discuss the availability and productivity of incorporated nouns, medials, and concrete finals in Algonquian. The argument in this paper depends on the claim of a structural distinction between primary and secondary finals. Primary finals (finals) are bound components that combine with free and also (crucially) bound initial forms, and categorize the stem for valency and animacy of the arguments in a way that is poorly predictable; secondary finals (derivational suffixes) combine only with free forms and change the stem categorization along predictable lines.