Matthias Hüning

From compounding to derivation The emergence of derivational affixes through “constructionalization”

Abstract The rise of new derivational affixes can be analyzed adequately as a case of “constructionalization” within the framework of Construction Morphology as developed by Booij (2010). We review some aspects and problems of previous accounts that view the emergence of derivational affixes as a case of grammaticalization or as a case of lexicalization, respectively. In line with recent developments in grammaticalization research, not the isolated element (word or affix) is viewed as the locus of change, but the complex word as a whole - seen as a “construction” in the sense of Construction Grammar - and its relation with other constructions. Morphological change can be conceived as constructional change at the word level.

From noun to evaluative adjective: conversion or debonding? Dutch top and its equivalents in German

In this study, we address the ways in which nouns can give rise to new adjectives in Dutch and German. More specifically, the focus is on words with an evaluative meaning that can be used in a wide range of morphological and syntactic constructions in recent (and informal) language use (e.g., German Hammervorstellung ‘very good performance’, hammer film ‘fantastic film’). In the literature, two distinct hypotheses can be found to account for the adjectival uses of such evaluative nouns: the ‘debonding’ hypothesis implies that the intensifying bound morpheme has developed into a free morpheme; the ‘conversion’ hypothesis suggests that the new adjectival uses are the result of a syntactic reanalysis of an N to an A that takes place in the predicative position. As a case study, we analyze the synchronic bound and free uses of Dutch top, and we compare them with German top and spitze. We conclude that the emergence of the adjectival uses of these morphemes imply an interaction between both processes, conversion and debonding.

Of Reynaert the Fox : Text and Facing Translation of the Middle Dutch Beast Epic Van den vos Reynaerde

Table of contents - 6[-]Acknowledgements - 8[-]Introduction - 10[-]Text, translation and notes - 42[-]Editorial principles - 248[-]Middle Dutch - A short introduction - 258[-]Further reading - 274[-]Index of proper names - 280[-]Glossary - 284[-]Abbreviations - 285[-]Word index (semantic fields) - 348[-]Bibliography - 358[-]List of illustrations - 368[-]Contributors - 369

Foreign Word-Formation in Construction Morphology: Verbs in -ieren in German

This paper discusses some problems and questions related to the study of foreign word-formation. German verbs in -ier(en) are used as a case study and as a testing ground for an output-oriented and exemplar-based approach to morphology. I will try to show that Construction Morphology is conceptually and with respect to its central notions very appropriate for the phenomena and the patterns in this domain of word-formation. While I will point out some peculiarities of foreign word-formation, I will also try to show that there is no difference in principle. In essence, word-formation is always an analogical process based on formal and semantic similarities between words and on paradigmatic relationships between (groups of) words.

The status of Dutch in post-colonial Suriname

Dutch is an official language not only in the Netherlands and Belgium, but also in Suriname, a country in South-America. Before its independence, Suriname was a colony of the Netherlands, starting as early as 1667. After its independence in 1975, the multilingual Republic of Suriname maintained Dutch as its official language, the language of education and public life. In this paper, we shall address two seemingly conflicting developments which take place in this former Dutch colony: on the one hand, the growing use of the creole language Sranantongo as a lingua franca across Suriname and on the other hand, the persistence of Dutch. We shall argue that the linguistic developments in Suriname must be understood against the background of a young nation which is constructing its own post-colonial national identity.

De relatie tussen schema’s en analogische verbindingen

In deze bijdrage willen we aandacht besteden aan de rol die analogie speelt in het theoretisch model van Construction Morphology zoals ontwikkeld door Booij (2010). In Construction Morphology worden woordvormingspatronen en productiviteit verantwoord door constructionele schema‘s en subschema‘s. Analogie wordt geinterpreteerd als strikt locale analogie die kan leiden tot een nieuwvorming op basis van een modelwoord. Schema‘s en analogie zijn dus complementair en verschillen in de graad van abstractie, waarbij analogie het uitgangspunt kan zijn voor het ontstaan van een schema. Regelmatige productieve woordvorming en analogische nieuwvorming zijn in deze benadering – anders dan bijvoorbeeld in generatieve benaderingen – geen absolute tegenstellingen, maar ze moeten desondanks volgens Booij wel duidelijk worden onderscheiden van elkaar. Wij willen echter laten zien dat het model wel degelijk ruimte biedt voor een ruimer analogiebegrip, waarbij analogie kan worden gezien als het centrale mechanisme van (ook productieve) woordvorming.