Tri-Constituent Compounds - A Usage-Based Account of Complex Nominal Compounding

This book provides a usage-based perspective to the study of multi-word compounding, analyzing the structural, functional and cognitive aspects of tripartite compounds (e.g. day care center, football game, hotel bedroom). It highlights the heterogeneity of these word-formation products, but also carves out surprising differences to two-word compounds. In order to reveal the step from two-word compounding to multi-word compounding, the book explains why only some compounds are used productively for the formation of more complex compounds. Building on the idea of entrenchment, it provides a theoretical account that allows understanding speakers' ability to produce multi-word compounds.

About the author

Elisabeth Huber, University of Munich, Germany.

Summary

This book provides a usage-based perspective to the study of multi-word compounding, analyzing the structural, functional and cognitive aspects of tripartite compounds (e.g. day care center, football game, hotel bedroom). It highlights the heterogeneity of these word-formation products, but also carves out surprising differences to two-word compounds. In order to reveal the step from two-word compounding to multi-word compounding, the book explains why only some compounds are used productively for the formation of more complex compounds. Building on the idea of entrenchment, it provides a theoretical account that allows understanding speakers’ ability to produce multi-word compounds.

Product details

• Authors: Elisabeth Huber
• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 07.10.2024
• EAN: 9783111629209
• ISBN: 978-3-11-162920-9
• No. of pages: 271
• Dimensions: 155 mm x 16 mm x 230 mm
• Weight: 560 g
• Illustrations: 15 b/w and 17 col. ill., 29 b/w tbl.
• Series: Topics in English Linguistics [TiEL]
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics; Englisch, Morphologie, Wortbildung, Linguistics, Komposita, Grammar, syntax & morphology, productivity, Computational Linguistics, Paperback Project, FOR000000 FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY / General, Morphological Structure, Multi-word Compounds, Complex Compounding, Entrenchment