Areal-typological aspects of word-formation
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Ferenc Kiefer✝
Abstract
Aktionsart is defined as the modification of verb meaning by morphological means. The article claims that languages in which aktionsarten are derived by preverbs form a Sprachbund. The central area of the Sprachbund is occupied by Slavic languages. The Sprachbund includes Yiddish, Lithuanian, Hungarian, and to a lesser extent German and Romani. English and Romance don’t have any aktionsarten. In the discussion of the aktionsarten in the area Russian is taken as the language of reference. The development of aktionsarten may follow various paths. In Yiddish most aktionsarten were developed under the influence of Slavic. In Hungarian, on the other hand, no direct Slavic influence can be identified but borrowing from German played a role in the development of aktionsarten. Language contact and parallel development have brought about very similar aktionsart systems in genetically unrelated languages. At the same time, languages may differ in the number of aktionsarten, in the range of base verbs for which the derivation is possible, and in the productivity of aktionsart-formation.
Abstract
Aktionsart is defined as the modification of verb meaning by morphological means. The article claims that languages in which aktionsarten are derived by preverbs form a Sprachbund. The central area of the Sprachbund is occupied by Slavic languages. The Sprachbund includes Yiddish, Lithuanian, Hungarian, and to a lesser extent German and Romani. English and Romance don’t have any aktionsarten. In the discussion of the aktionsarten in the area Russian is taken as the language of reference. The development of aktionsarten may follow various paths. In Yiddish most aktionsarten were developed under the influence of Slavic. In Hungarian, on the other hand, no direct Slavic influence can be identified but borrowing from German played a role in the development of aktionsarten. Language contact and parallel development have brought about very similar aktionsart systems in genetically unrelated languages. At the same time, languages may differ in the number of aktionsarten, in the range of base verbs for which the derivation is possible, and in the productivity of aktionsart-formation.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword and acknowledgements vii
- Editors’ introduction 1
- Affixation vs. conversion. 15
- The -alis/-aris allomorphy revisited 33
- French property nouns based on toponyms or ethnic adjectives 53
- Morphological variation in the construction of French names for inhabitants 75
- The invisible hand of grammaticalization 89
- Paradigmatic realignment and morphological change 107
- Areal-typological aspects of word-formation 129
- Variation and change in morphology and syntax 149
- Optional multiple plural marking in Maay 177
- Lettered words 193
- Word creation 201
- Pleonastic morphology dies hard 217
- Index of languages and terms 245
- Index of subjects and terms 247
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword and acknowledgements vii
- Editors’ introduction 1
- Affixation vs. conversion. 15
- The -alis/-aris allomorphy revisited 33
- French property nouns based on toponyms or ethnic adjectives 53
- Morphological variation in the construction of French names for inhabitants 75
- The invisible hand of grammaticalization 89
- Paradigmatic realignment and morphological change 107
- Areal-typological aspects of word-formation 129
- Variation and change in morphology and syntax 149
- Optional multiple plural marking in Maay 177
- Lettered words 193
- Word creation 201
- Pleonastic morphology dies hard 217
- Index of languages and terms 245
- Index of subjects and terms 247
