Frequency, Analogy, and Suppletion: √hlk in the Semitic Languages

The verb √hlk exhibits various morphological irregularities throughout the Semitic language family. These are well known and have been described before, in particular from the perspective of Biblical Hebrew and its nearest relatives. The current contribution approaches the morphology of Semitic √hlk from state-of-the-art linguistic theories, in particular usage-based theory. Thus, it is explained how high-token frequency of some of the verb’s forms induced irregular sound changes (phonetic reduction), the manner in which these spread to other forms in the paradigm through analogy, leading to the suppletive paradigms of √hlk in the various Semitic languages. By combining frequency figures with usage-based theory, earlier solutions are revised, while drawing up the chronological order and paradigmatic directions of the most likely development.