unit status

(See unit.)

p.58:

"Phonological structures much larger than segments can also achieve unit status, including syllables, words, familiar phrases, and even longer sequences."

"In additions, ... we can posit semantic units, i.e., established concepts...."

"A symbolic association between a semantic and a phonological structure or unit can also gain unit status. The simplest kind ... is a morpheme.

"Basic symbolic units combine ... a large inventory of conventional expressions (not restricted ... to complex lexical items, cf. 1.2.2)"

"Grammatical patterns are analyzed as schematic symbolic units."

"When no appropriate unit is available, the task of finding a novel expression to do the job requires a kind of linguistic creativity ..."