This paper focuses on the complex derivational and inflectional morphology of Somali (East Cushitic) verbs. Somali verbs are traditionally cast in three major classes, depending on specific lexical suffixes (Saeed 1993). It is assumed that these classes must be distinguished because the relevant suffixes trigger a morphologically conditioned allomorphy. We argue against this view and claim that the allomorphic patterns targeting each class are epiphenomenal. Our analysis, couched within the theoretical framework of Government Phonology (Kaye, Lowenstamm & Vergnaud 1985, 1990) and the CV-model (Lowenstamm 1996), shows that the allomorphy in question is in fact phonologically conditioned. In particular, we establish unified representations of the two major lexical suffixes – the causative and the autobenefactive – and claim that all surface realizations of these markers result from the application of regular phonological rules. Thus, contrary to what appears at first sight, Somali displays a single verbal class whose three subclasses are phonologically (not morphologically) defined.

中文翻译：

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索马里语的语言类：异形没有分类功能

本文重点研究索马里（东库希特语）动词的复杂派生和屈折形态。索马里动词传统上分为三大类，具体取决于特定的词汇后缀（Saeed 1993）。假设必须区分这些类，因为相关的后缀触发了形态条件的同质异形。我们反对这种观点，并声称针对每个类的同构模式是附带现象的。我们在政府音韵学 (Kaye, Lowenstamm & Vergnaud 1985, 1990) 和 CV 模型 (Lowenstamm 1996) 的理论框架内进行的分析表明，所讨论的同形异形实际上是受音韵制约的。特别是，我们建立了两个主要词汇后缀的统一表示 - 使役和自益 - 并声称这些标记的所有表面实现都来自规则语音规则的应用。因此，与乍看之下的相反，索马里语表现出一个单一的语言类别，其三个子类别是在语音上（而不是形态上）定义的。