Between word formation and meaning change
-
Peter Koch✝
Abstract
In diachronic lexicology, word formation (henceforth: WF) is generally treated as one of three strictly distinct types of processes of lexical innovation, the two others being meaning change (MCh) and borrowing. A unitary theoretical framework based on Construction Grammer and integrating different types of lexical innovation will show that, from an onomasiological point of view, WF and MCh in particular are only two ways of switching from a construction 1 expressing a concept C1 to a formally and semantically related construction 2 expressing a concept C2. From this perspective it is not surprising to find multiple combination, intertwining and interaction between MCh and WF: WF and MCh as subsequent steps in chains of diachronic change; WF and MCh as designative alternatives in lexical innovation; WF and MCh as components of the phenomena of lexical ellipsis and folk-etymology; MCh governing the diachronic evolution of already existing WF devices; MCh creating new WF devices.
Abstract
In diachronic lexicology, word formation (henceforth: WF) is generally treated as one of three strictly distinct types of processes of lexical innovation, the two others being meaning change (MCh) and borrowing. A unitary theoretical framework based on Construction Grammer and integrating different types of lexical innovation will show that, from an onomasiological point of view, WF and MCh in particular are only two ways of switching from a construction 1 expressing a concept C1 to a formally and semantically related construction 2 expressing a concept C2. From this perspective it is not surprising to find multiple combination, intertwining and interaction between MCh and WF: WF and MCh as subsequent steps in chains of diachronic change; WF and MCh as designative alternatives in lexical innovation; WF and MCh as components of the phenomena of lexical ellipsis and folk-etymology; MCh governing the diachronic evolution of already existing WF devices; MCh creating new WF devices.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
-
Editors’ introduction
- Morphology and meaning 3
-
Plenary papers
- Roots, concepts, and word structure 49
- Between word formation and meaning change 71
- Indirect coding 97
-
Section papers
- Diachrony and the polysemy of derivational affixes 127
- Possessive compounds in Slavic and the Principle of Integrated Meronymy 141
- Relation diversity and ease of processing for opaque and transparent English compounds 153
- Inflection vs. derivation 163
- Discrepancy between form and meaning in word-formation 177
- Compounds vs. phrases 191
- Semantic transparency, compounding, and the nature of independent variables 205
- The layering of form and meaning in creole word-formation 223
- Semantic headedness and categorization of - cum - compounds 239
- German plural doublets with and without meaning differentiation 249
- On the form and meaning of double noun incorporation 259
- Tuning morphosemantic transparency by shortening 275
- Root transparency and the morphology-meaning interface 289
- Mimetic verbs and meaning 303
- Mismatch verbs 315
- The canonical function of the deponent verbs in modern Greek 331
- Language index 345
- Subject index 347
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
-
Editors’ introduction
- Morphology and meaning 3
-
Plenary papers
- Roots, concepts, and word structure 49
- Between word formation and meaning change 71
- Indirect coding 97
-
Section papers
- Diachrony and the polysemy of derivational affixes 127
- Possessive compounds in Slavic and the Principle of Integrated Meronymy 141
- Relation diversity and ease of processing for opaque and transparent English compounds 153
- Inflection vs. derivation 163
- Discrepancy between form and meaning in word-formation 177
- Compounds vs. phrases 191
- Semantic transparency, compounding, and the nature of independent variables 205
- The layering of form and meaning in creole word-formation 223
- Semantic headedness and categorization of - cum - compounds 239
- German plural doublets with and without meaning differentiation 249
- On the form and meaning of double noun incorporation 259
- Tuning morphosemantic transparency by shortening 275
- Root transparency and the morphology-meaning interface 289
- Mimetic verbs and meaning 303
- Mismatch verbs 315
- The canonical function of the deponent verbs in modern Greek 331
- Language index 345
- Subject index 347
