Verkehrsberuhigen, karrierefördern, nervenzerrütten: On the role of object incorporation by participles in German pseudo-compositional verb formation Cover Image

Verkehrsberuhigen, karrierefördern, nervenzerrütten: Zur Rolle partizipialer Objektinkorporation bei der pseudokompositionellen Verbbildung im Deutschen
Verkehrsberuhigen, karrierefördern, nervenzerrütten: On the role of object incorporation by participles in German pseudo-compositional verb formation

Author(s): Arash Farhidnia
Subject(s): Language studies, Syntax, Lexis
Published by: Vilniaus Universiteto Leidykla
Keywords: back-formation; incorporation; lexicalization; orthography; verbal pseudocompounds; complex verbs; incorporating verbs;

Summary/Abstract: In general, verbal word formation in German is mainly based on prefix and particle verbs. However, there is a considerable number of verbs which are referred to as ‘pseudo compounds’ (like bausparen, notlanden, schlussfolgern, schutzimpfen, etc.). These verbs are marginally productive in terms of their underlying word formation pattern and are so the result of conversion or back-formation from nouns and thus of nominal origin. And yet, for many of them (e.g., staubsaugen, verkehrsberuhigen, karrierefördern, nervenzerrütten, etc.) a syntactic origin seems just as plausible and may, under certain circumstances, cause the formation of new verbs. Often instantaneous formations, they are not recorded by any dictionary or any recognized corpora, and yet, from the point of view of the language system, they are possible and can be build. The following article aims to discuss verbs of the so-called ‘incorporation type’ and the conditions under which their genesis takes place. It will be shown that for the formation of such verbs, the incorporation of the accusative object by participles is mainly responsible insofar as this provides the basis for the infinitive and thus for the verb formation in German.

  • Issue Year: 2018
  • Issue No: 71
  • Page Range: 26-42
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: German