Compounding (Linguistics)

Linguistics

1. Compounding (Morphology) Level-5

2. Definition Compounding or composition is the process of combining two or more words (free morphemes) to create a new word (commonly a noun, verb, or adjective). Example: black+board=blackboard The meaning of a compound word may be very different from the meanings of its components in isolation. In other words a compound word is a union of two or more words to convey a unit idea or special meaning that is not conveyed as easily or quickly by separated words.

3. Structure of Compounds Compound words may be hyphenated , written open (as separate words), or written solid (closed). A hyphenated compound—also called a unit modifier—is simply a combination of words joined by a hyphen or hyphens. E.g. Marry-go-round The hyphen is a mark of punctuation that not only unites but separates the component words; thus, A hyphen in a compound word aids understanding and readability and ensures correct pronunciation. Words are hyphenated mainly to express the idea of a unit and to avoid ambiguity.

4. The use of compounding in English language is an evolving process. Compounds in English are written sometimes as; i) one word ( sunglass ) ii) sometimes as two hyphenated words ( life-threatening ) iii) sometimes as two separate words ( football stadium )

5. The notion of head Compounds have a very important systematic property: Their head usually occurs on the right-hand head It’s called right-hand head rule Type of right-hand head: If the head is a verb, the compound will be a verb. e.g. deep- fry If the head is a count noun, the compound will a noun. e.g. beer bottle

6. English Compounds Noun Compounds Verb Compounds Adjective Compounds

7. Noun Compounds Two or more nouns combined to form a single noun. Compound nouns are written as : separate words (orange juice) linked by a hyphen (sister-in-law) one word (schoolteacher)

8. Adjective Compounds Two or more words that act as a single idea to modify a noun .   part-time :   part-time employee high-speed :   high-speed race As a general rule, the words in a compound adjective are hyphenated when they come before a noun (a well-known actor) but not when they come after (The actor is well known). Also, compound adjectives formed with an adverb ending in - ly  (such as rapidly changing) are usually not hyphenated. Adverbs that do not end in - ly  may take the hyphen to form a compound adjective. The reason is obvious. A  fast-moving script  suggests a roller coaster plot while a fast moving script might have pace but it is emotionally charged (i.e., emotionally moving) at the same time.

9. Verb Compounds The process of compounding verbs can be distinguished into 3 methods . 1- Two or more words combined to form a single verb. Conventionally, verb compounds are written as either one word ("to housesit") or two hyphenated words ("to water-proof "). Example: "I pretended to window-shop , pausing in front of a little store jammed with racks of costume jewelry."

10. 2- A unit , such as a phrasal verb or a prepositional verb , that behaves either lexically or syntactically as a single verb . In such cases, a verb and its particle may be separated by other words . Now more commonly known as a multi-word verb . Example: " drop the essay off „ or... “I  look forward to  an America which will not be afraid of grace and beauty."

11. 3- A lexical verb plus its auxiliaries: in traditional grammar. "And then I  was playing  over and under and through all of this, and the pianist and bass  were playing  somewhere else."

12. Preposition Compounds Compound prepositions formed by prepositions and nouns are common in English . Example; Right now On the way etc. Japanese shows the same pattern, except the word order is the opposite (with postpositions ):   no naka  (lit. "of inside", i.e. "on the inside of").

13. Rhyming Compounds A compound word that contains rhyming elements, such as : blackjack, fuddy duddy , pooper-scooper, and voodoo. Most commonly found in songs, baby talk and nursery rhymes. Examples: kissy wissy , piggy wiggy . Characteristics: melodic, easy to remember and pronunce.

14. Semantic classification of compounds A common semantic classification of compounds yields four types as mentioned below: Endocentric Exocentric Copulative Appositional Two Extra types of compounds Hybridized Arabicized compounds

15. Endocentric Compounds An endocentric compound consists of a  head , i.e. the categorical part that contains the basic meaning of the whole compound, and modifiers, which restrict this meaning. For example, the English compound  doghouse , where  house  is the head and  dog  is the modifier , is understood as a house intended for a dog. Endocentric compounds tend to be of the same part of speech (word class) as their head , as in the case of  doghouse . Such compounds were called  tatpurusha  in the Sanskrit tradition .

16. Exocentric Compounds Exocentric compounds are called bahuvrihi compounds in the Sanskrit tradition. Exocentric compounds are hyponyms of some unexpressed semantic head (e.g. a person, a plant, an animal...), and their meaning often cannot be transparently guessed from its constituent parts . Redneck (it’s a kind of person) Loudmouth (it doesn’t denote a kind of mouth) Pick pocket (someone who picks pocket)

17. Copulative Compounds Copulative compounds are compounds, which have two semantic heads. In traditional Sanskrit grammar it is known as dvandva samas . Examples: bittersweet, sleepwalk.

18. Appositional Compounds Appositional compound refer to lexemes that have two (contrary) attributes, which classify the compound. In Sanskrit grammatical tradition it is known as dvanda . Example: Player-coach ( someone who is a player as well as a coach )

19. Hybridized C ompound s A  hybrid compound is a  word, which  etymologically has one part derived from one language and another part derived from a different language . Examples; Aqua+phobia cinema-al-atu:r

20. Arabicized Compounds