When German native speakers converse with English native speakers, they are often astonished how easily and spontaneously new words can be created in English. At the same time, English speakers are astonished by the number of lengthy compounds the German use in written language. But still, most word formation processes are very similar in both languages - both English and German even share some affixes, for example be- in be-friend or be-zahlen or –er in sing-er or Säng-er.
I want to investigate the differences and similarities concerning the major word formation processes in English and German (compounding, derivational suffixation and conversion). Firstly, I will provide an appropriate background by looking at contrasts in the lexicon and will also touch on some diachronic explanations. Then I will explain the different units of words.
Ultimately, I want to get an insight into a very recent phenomenon, namely the adding of German affixes to English words in German word formation - the so-called ‘Denglisch’.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Contrasts in the lexicon
3. The components of words
4. Compounding
5. Derivational suffixation
6. Conversion
7. “Denglisch” word formation in German
8. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper aims to investigate the linguistic differences and similarities between English and German regarding major word formation processes, such as compounding, derivational suffixation, and conversion, while also exploring the recent phenomenon of "Denglisch."
- Comparative analysis of lexicon-based word formation
- Structural examination of compounding and suffixation
- Evaluation of conversion productivity in both languages
- Historical and diachronic influences on word formation
- The impact of "Denglisch" on modern German word formation
Excerpt from the Book
Compounding
Compounding is the most productive type of word-formation process, both in English and in German. It can be defined as the combination of two words to form a new word. But compounds can consist of more than just two elements and these elements need not to be words (Plag 2003: 133). According to Donalies it is even most common that compounds consist of a word and a confix (Donalies 2007: 35). The more precise definition given by Plag is “[…] a compound is a word that consists of two elements, the first of which is either a root, a word or a phrase, the second of which is either a root or a word” (Plag 2003: 135).
In both languages all compounds are binary which means that they can be divided into two units: (1) university teaching award committee(1) member(2) (Plag 2003: 133) ‘ member of X’ (2) Rosenbuschbegradigungs(1)experte(2) ‘n expert for X’.
Concerning the notion of the head, in both languages the left-hand member modifies the right-hand member, which is also called the head (right-hand head rule). This does not account for all languages, for example French: a café-filtre is something to drink, not something to filter (Donalies 2007: 39). The head determines the grammatical features of a word, e.g. the word class or the number.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the basic linguistic similarities between English and German and sets the goal to analyze specific word formation processes.
2. Contrasts in the lexicon: This chapter provides an overview of the lexicon, exploring how historical contacts and differences in vocabulary influence word formation.
3. The components of words: This section defines the fundamental units of words, including words, phrases, confixes, and affixes used in word formation.
4. Compounding: This chapter examines the structure, binary nature, and right-hand head rule of compounds in both languages.
5. Derivational suffixation: This part focuses on the use of suffixes to derive new words and compares the directions of derivation in both languages.
6. Conversion: This chapter discusses the process of changing word classes without morphological changes, noting the higher productivity in English.
7. “Denglisch” word formation in German: This section analyzes the integration of English words into German through borrowing, calques, and the use of German affixes.
8. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the findings, emphasizing that historical events and analytical differences largely account for the variances in word formation.
Keywords
Word formation, English, German, Compounding, Derivational suffixation, Conversion, Denglisch, Lexicon, Morphology, Right-hand head rule, Diachronic linguistics, Affixes, Confixes, Linguistic comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper provides a comparative study of word formation processes in English and German, specifically looking at how both languages create new words through compounding, derivation, and conversion.
What are the central thematic areas covered in the text?
The core themes include the structural analysis of compounds, the role of derivational suffixes, the grammatical flexibility provided by conversion, and the influence of English on German through "Denglisch."
What is the overarching research goal?
The goal is to determine why these two Germanic languages differ in their word formation productivity and to analyze the historical and linguistic factors that lead to these differences.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a contrastive linguistic approach, drawing on established theoretical frameworks (such as those by Plag, Donalies, and Mair) to analyze word samples and morphological rules in both languages.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body breaks down specific processes like the right-hand head rule in compounds, the constraints on suffix combinations, and the diachronic development of the lexicons.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include word formation, morphology, conversion, compounding, derivational suffixation, and Denglisch.
Why is the "right-hand head rule" significant for these languages?
It is significant because it allows for a consistent structure where the right-hand element determines the grammatical category of the compound, a trait shared by English and German but not all other languages.
What distinguishes "Denglisch" from standard borrowing?
Denglisch often involves applying German inflectional rules or adding German affixes to English base words, effectively treating them as part of the German morphological system rather than simply adopting a foreign term.
- Quote paper
- Sonja Kaupp (Author), 2009, Word formation processes in English and German – a survey, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/123416
