The Conceptual Function of Derivational Word-Formation in English

Abstract

Faced with the problem that neither a traditional morphological nor a syntactic interpretation sufficiently explains the unique function of word-formation, this paper explores the possibilities offered by a cognitive approach. Assuming conceptual reorganization as the general goal of wordformation, the function of suffixation is specified as conceptual recategorization, producing stable context-independent concepts, some of them identical with grammatical word classes, others more specific, such as person and domain concepts or nominal action, quality and status concepts. Additional conceptual categories arise where recategorization combines with metonymy, e. g. in collective and result concepts. Also in a cognitive vein, prefixation is seen as conceptual anchoring in a spatial or temporal setting or on a scale of gradation and antonymy. Comparing derivation with composition, the analysis shows that while basically a different conceptual process is involved, composition also includes large areas where it fades into prefixation and suffixation. Finally, derivation is contrasted with conversion, a process based on varied constellations of source and target concepts, but generally requiring a larger degree of contextual support than derivation, and this is regarded as the major reason for the continuing productivity of derivational word-formation in English.