Arnold Melchior Zwicky

Research in general theoretical linguistics, focused on morphology and its relationship to syntax and phonology. With Geoffrey K. Pullum, he has investigated a central hypothesis about the organization of grammars, the Principle of Phonology-Free Syntax. In morphology, he has been an exponent of a realizational lexeme-based framework, and in syntax of a construction-based framework. He has also explored variation in syntax and morphology, and the values and uses of variants in social and discourse contexts, focusing especially on gender and sexuality.