Ekvifinalita v premenách slovotvorného systému
Equifinality in the Transformations of the Word-Formation System

Summary/Abstract: Derivatives are conditioned by an intertwining of dependencies from various sources; their formal and semantic identity does not ensure the same cause-and-effect relationship (equifinality). The derivative which is newly emerged inscribes itself into a word-formative nest, the passage of time may change the motivation relations, which often may bring about new formants; sometimes the status of morphemes is altered. The ineluctable result of the conventionality of (a) language has to do with departures from the basic system-related rules. The overriding of such secondary rules is revealed on the basis of the reversal of motivation from the borrowed names of actions (cf. publikacja ‘publication’ → publikować ‘to publish’; publikować ‘to publish’ → publikacja ‘publication’/publikowanie ‘publishing’), as well as the shifting of univerbisms to the class of predicative names (plac targowy ‘marketplace’ → targowisko ‘bazaar’ → miejsce targowania). Considerations associated with the influence of motivation on the formation of the derivation system are concluded by a fragment which demonstrates the phenomenon of re interpretation – the speakers/users of a language change the motivation to one that is similar in formal terms even though it is remote in terms of semantics (e.g. lżyć ‘to revile’ (Proto-Slavic *lьgъ ‘light’, Latin ‘levis’) is associated by Poles with łgać ‘to lie’, Latin ‘mentiri’). The final remarks include appeal to scholars to engage in more in-depth studies in the reception of word forms which are created and which are being created. Motivation plays the most important role in this process!

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