The English language has been very productive at all times in the area of word formation. English has, in fact, the reputation of a very creative language because of the many ways in which new words and expressions can be coined. When we look at a language to examine the processes of word formation, it seems reasonable to begin by scanning a discrete text which stems from a particular period of the language for all phenomena of word formation. Then it becomes necessary to focus on one particular type of formation, to analyse and explain it. In this paper, I discuss Middle English derivational suffixation. The textual basis for this is The Physician's Tale, a part of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. While I try to include as many types of derivational suffixation as possible, I will omit zero-derivation, which is discussed in another paper by a fellow member of the Hauptseminar. Double suffixation will be looked at, too. I also venture a brief look at the use Computational Linguists make of morphological analysis.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Definitions
3. Possibilities of classifying suffixes
4. Suffixes in the Physician's Tale
5. Native derivational suffixation
5.1 Derivational suffixation forming adjectives
5.2 Derivational suffixation forming adverbs
5.3 Derivational suffixation forming substantives
6. Double suffixation
7. Doubtful suffixation
8. Conclusion: Results and outlook
Research Objectives and Focus Areas
This paper investigates the processes of derivational suffixation within the Middle English period, specifically utilizing Geoffrey Chaucer’s "The Physician’s Tale" as a primary textual corpus. The objective is to identify and categorize productive derivational suffixes and examine their functions in word formation, while addressing challenges such as double suffixation and the distinction between derivational and grammatical morphemes.
- Analysis of Middle English derivational suffixation patterns.
- Categorization of suffixes by function, productivity, and origin.
- Examination of specific native suffixes like '-ful', '-ly', '-fold', '-er', '-ness', and '-ship'.
- Evaluation of double suffixation and morphological complexity.
- Exploration of the utility of historical lexicology for computational linguistics.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Possibilities of classifying suffixes
There are several ways in which suffixes can be grouped: according to a) their function: derivational or grammatical; b) their productivity in ME: productive, unproductive or dead; c) their origin: native or borrowed, subdivided into the language from which they were borrowed, such as Classical Latin, Ecclesiastical Latin, Old French, Anglo-Norman, Old Norse and the like; d) the word class(es) they can be added to: substantives, adjectives, adverbs, verbs; e) the word class(es) they produce: substantives, adjectives, adverbs, verbs.
The patterns a) and b) are obviously too superficial to provide detailed insight into the field of suffixation and the origin of many suffixes is under debate. I have decided on grouping the suffixes according to the word class they produce because the result of suffixation is what we find in Chaucer. Where a suffix that produces members of several word classes, is present with an example of only one word class, I discuss it in the chapter about formation of that word class.
The suffix 'ful', for example, is discussed in the chapter on suffixes that form adjectives because the Physician's Tale contains the adjective 'sorweful' but not the noun 'handful'. This method also helps to illustrate that there are some suffixes such as '-ly' which produce new words in more than one word class. Whether there is only one polysemic suffix or whether there are several homonymous suffixes is a matter that will be discussed in the appropriate place.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research focus on Middle English derivational suffixation using "The Physician's Tale" as the core corpus.
2. Definitions: Establishes fundamental linguistic concepts, differentiating between bound morphemes, grammatical suffixes, and derivational suffixes.
3. Possibilities of classifying suffixes: Outlines various criteria for grouping suffixes and explains the methodological approach of classifying by word class produced.
4. Suffixes in the Physician's Tale: Provides a statistical overview of the suffixed words found in the text and justifies the selection of relevant items for the study.
5. Native derivational suffixation: Investigates the specific functions and origins of native suffixes grouped by the word classes they produce (adjectives, adverbs, substantives).
6. Double suffixation: Analyzes words containing multiple suffixes and categorizes them by the interaction between derivational and grammatical components.
7. Doubtful suffixation: Addresses the analytical challenges posed by suffixes like '-ed' and '-ing' that oscillate between participial and adjectival usage.
8. Conclusion: Results and outlook: Summarizes the findings regarding suffix productivity in Middle English and suggests applications for modern computational translation engines.
Keywords
Middle English, Suffixation, Derivational Suffixes, Word Formation, The Physician's Tale, Geoffrey Chaucer, Historical Lexicology, Grammatical Suffixes, Morphology, Computational Linguistics, Bound Morphemes, Native Suffixes, Double Suffixation, Morphological Analysis, Translation Engines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The paper examines the derivational suffixation processes in the Middle English language, focusing on how suffixes function to form new words.
Which text serves as the basis for the study?
The research is based on the analysis of Geoffrey Chaucer’s "The Physician’s Tale" from the Canterbury Tales.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to analyze native derivational suffixation, identify productive patterns within the text, and address linguistic complexities like double suffixation.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The study uses analytical lexicology, categorizing suffixes by the word classes they produce and evaluating their productivity during the Middle English period.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers definitions of morphological units, classification criteria for suffixes, detailed case studies of specific suffixes, and the analysis of ambiguous or complex suffixation cases.
Which keywords define this work?
The core keywords include Middle English, Suffixation, Word Formation, Morphology, and Computational Linguistics.
Why is "The Physician's Tale" suitable for this analysis?
The text provides a distinct, limited corpus of 286 lines that allows for an exhaustive scan of word formation phenomena within a specific historical period.
How does this study relate to modern technology?
The author argues that findings in historical lexicology can optimize data management in computational translation engines by using meaning-flags to handle word permutations.
- Citation du texte
- Martin Klinkhardt (Auteur), 2001, Suffixation in Middle Englisch, with particular regard to derivational suffixation, exemplified on Chaucer's "Physician's Tale", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/25504
