Idiosyncratic frequency as a measure of derivation vs. inflection

There is ongoing discussion about how to conceptualize the nature of distinction between inflection and derivation. A common approach relies on qualitative differences in semantic relationship inflectionally versus derivationally related words: yields ways discuss same concept different syntactic contexts, while derivation gives rise words for concepts. This differential can be expected manifest predictability word frequency that are or inflectionally: predicting token a based information its base form should easier when two an inflectional relationship, rather than derivational one. We compare prediction error magnitude statistical models distributional French. The results conform expectations: it predict from properties those word. Prediction provides quantitative, continuous method explore individual processes yielded by employing information, which turn used draw conclusions manifestation inflection–derivation distinction.