On the origin of fermion masses

We review some recent work on nonperturbative properties of fermions and connections with chiral gauge theories. In particular, we consider one of the ultimate goals of this program: The understanding of the actual fermion mass spectrum. It is pointed out that if quarks and leptons are composite, their masses may be set by the physics of the preons and their interactions in such a manner as to differ considerably from the Yukawa form mf∝v (where v is the electroweak symmetry breaking scale) or analogous forms involving v. Some ideas of how this might work are given, and some implications are discussed. (orig.)