Modifying suffixes in Italian and the Autonomy of Morphology
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Heike Necker
Abstract
This study addresses restrictions concerning morphological modification in modern spoken Italian – the formation of diminutives, augmentatives and pejoratives by means of modifying suffixes (MS). Three purely morphological restrictions have been found (Necker 2005, 2006): (i) de-adjectival nouns with the suffix -ità; (ii) nouns with -ismo; (iii) adverbs formed with the suffix -mente cannot be modified by means of MS. In recent communication technologies (blogs, chat-rooms etc.), a number of apparent counter-examples are found, e.g. possibilitina. Should these be regarded as derived formations, they would break the above-mentioned restrictions. We advance the hypothesis that the base of e.g. possibilitina, is perceived as a simplex word, rather than as complex and derived, and that a morphological constraint can apply only if the base is perceived as internally structured.
Abstract
This study addresses restrictions concerning morphological modification in modern spoken Italian – the formation of diminutives, augmentatives and pejoratives by means of modifying suffixes (MS). Three purely morphological restrictions have been found (Necker 2005, 2006): (i) de-adjectival nouns with the suffix -ità; (ii) nouns with -ismo; (iii) adverbs formed with the suffix -mente cannot be modified by means of MS. In recent communication technologies (blogs, chat-rooms etc.), a number of apparent counter-examples are found, e.g. possibilitina. Should these be regarded as derived formations, they would break the above-mentioned restrictions. We advance the hypothesis that the base of e.g. possibilitina, is perceived as a simplex word, rather than as complex and derived, and that a morphological constraint can apply only if the base is perceived as internally structured.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Morphological theories, the Autonomy of Morphology, and Romance data 1
- A paradox? 27
- Verb morphology gone astray 55
- The Friulian subject clitics 83
- Romance clitic pronouns in lexical paradigms 119
- Hiatus resolution between function and lexical words in French and Italian 141
- Occitan plurals 179
- Partial or complete lack of plural agreement 201
- Noun inflectional classes in Maceratese 231
- Participles and nominal aspect 271
- Modifying suffixes in Italian and the Autonomy of Morphology 295
- SE -verbs, SE -forms or SE -constructions? SE and its transitional stages between morphology and syntax 319
- The lexicalist hypothesis and the semantics of event nominalization suffixes 347
- Italian brand names – morphological categorisation and the Autonomy of Morphology 369
- Author index 385
- Index of subjects and languages 389
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Morphological theories, the Autonomy of Morphology, and Romance data 1
- A paradox? 27
- Verb morphology gone astray 55
- The Friulian subject clitics 83
- Romance clitic pronouns in lexical paradigms 119
- Hiatus resolution between function and lexical words in French and Italian 141
- Occitan plurals 179
- Partial or complete lack of plural agreement 201
- Noun inflectional classes in Maceratese 231
- Participles and nominal aspect 271
- Modifying suffixes in Italian and the Autonomy of Morphology 295
- SE -verbs, SE -forms or SE -constructions? SE and its transitional stages between morphology and syntax 319
- The lexicalist hypothesis and the semantics of event nominalization suffixes 347
- Italian brand names – morphological categorisation and the Autonomy of Morphology 369
- Author index 385
- Index of subjects and languages 389
