bleeding (adj./n.)

A term used in GENERATIVE linguistic analysis of RULE-ordering, and originally introduced in the context of DIACHRONIC PHONOLOGY, to refer to a type of FUNCTIONAL relationship between rules; opposed to FEEDING. A bleeding relationship is one where an earlier rule (A) removes a STRUCTURAL REPRESENTATION to which a later rule (B) would otherwise have applied, and thus reduces the number of forms which can be generated. If rule B is of the form X ⇒ Y, then rule A must be of the form W ⇒ Z, where W includes Z, and Z is distinct from both X and Y. In these circumstances, rule A is called a bleeding rule in relation to B, and the LINEAR ORDER of these rules is called a bleeding order. If the rules are applied in the reverse order, A is said to counter-bleed B. Counter-bleeding results in a non-affecting interaction in which a rule fails to realize its potential to reduce the number of forms to which another rule applies. It is also possible in a pair of rules for each rule to bleed the other (mutual bleeding).