Cycnos | Numéros | Volume 23.1 - Le Qualitatif

Résumé :

This paper examines a class of derived words in –hood, -dom, -ette, -esque, -ish and –like. Our assumption is that the above affixes have a qualitative value which is based on the comparison between two domains and the selection of characteristic features. Our aim is to demonstrate that derivation rules and statistical analyses are not sufficient when lexical creativity is to be accounted for. The speaker’s need to draw attention and to produce atypical words provides a strong motivation. Very often, derived words have the function of tag-markers signalling a passage into a different kind of discourse, with a greater implication on the part of the speaker and a metalinguistic awareness.

Date de publication : 2006-06-30