Are there any principles Are there any principles governing the order and governing the order and combination of affixes in combination of affixes in

Modern Greek Modern Greek parasynthetic verbs ?parasynthetic verbs ?

Angeliki EFTHYMIOUAngeliki EFTHYMIOU

Assistant ProfessorAssistant Professor

Democritus University of Thrace, Democritus University of Thrace, GreeceGreece

Introduction (1)Introduction (1)

• This paper discusses the principles This paper discusses the principles governing the order and combination of governing the order and combination of affixes in Modern Greek affixes in Modern Greek parasyntheticparasynthetic verbs (MGPVs)verbs (MGPVs). .

• Parasynthetic derivationParasynthetic derivation is generally is generally described as a process of simultaneous described as a process of simultaneous affixation of a prefix and a suffix to a affixation of a prefix and a suffix to a base (cf. Lieber 2010:202, Plag 2003: 40) base (cf. Lieber 2010:202, Plag 2003: 40)

• e.g. (MG) e.g. (MG) kse-floud-íz(o)kse-floud-íz(o) ‘peel’ ‘peel’ Cf. also (English) decaffeinate, (Italian) Cf. also (English) decaffeinate, (Italian)

decaffeinaredecaffeinare,, etc. etc.

Introduction (2)Introduction (2)

• MGPVs seem to beMGPVs seem to be formed by an adjectival formed by an adjectival or or nominal base and two nominal base and two derivational derivational affixesaffixes ( (a prefix and a suffix),a prefix and a suffix), whichwhich are are simultaneously added to the right and to simultaneously added to the right and to the left of the basethe left of the base : :

• MG Pattern: MG Pattern: Derivational PREFDerivational PREF-- N/A- N/A- derivational SUFF- (inflectional SUF): derivational SUFF- (inflectional SUF): e.g. e.g.

• kse-floud-íz(o)kse-floud-íz(o) ‘peel’ : ‘peel’ : floúd(afloúd(a)) ‘hull, ‘hull, skin’, skin’,

**floud-ízofloud-ízo, *, *ksefloudakseflouda• kse-kse-ddond-jond-jááz(o)z(o) ‘ ‘to take one’s teeth out’ : to take one’s teeth out’ : dond(idond(i)) ‘tooth’, * ‘tooth’, *dondjazo, *ksedondidondjazo, *ksedondi

Previous analyses for Previous analyses for MGPVsMGPVs

• Following Scalise (1994), Ralli (2005) adopts a binary structure for MGPVs: 1. the noun/adjectival base is combined with the derivational suffix (-iz-, -iaz-, -on-, etc. ) in order to produce a possible but non-existing bound verbal stem. 2. the prefix is added to this stem. 3. the inflectional affix –o transforms the stem into an actual word.

• Following Corbin’s (1987) model, Efthymiou (2002), and Anastassiadis-Symeonidis & Masoura (2009) characterize the segments –iaz(o), iz(o), -on(o) in such cases as class markers serving to indicate verbal category.

DataData

• CorpusCorpus : : a list of 300 parasynthetic a list of 300 parasynthetic verbs inverbs in ‑ ‑ízoízo, –, –iázoiázo and and ––ónoóno extracted extracted from Anastassiadis-Symeonidis (2002) from Anastassiadis-Symeonidis (2002) Reverse Dictionary of Modern GreekReverse Dictionary of Modern Greek

• The investigation of MGPVs revealThe investigation of MGPVs revealss that that the distribution of prefixes and suffixes the distribution of prefixes and suffixes in these verbs is not arbitrary, but in these verbs is not arbitrary, but governed by some general principles.governed by some general principles.

MGPVs: preliminary MGPVs: preliminary remarksremarks

• All derivational prefixes and suffixes that participate in MGPVs also exist outside parasynthesis (or verb formation): e.g. : e.g. aristotel-izoaristotel-izo ‘imitate ‘imitate Aristotle’Aristotle’,, ritid-jazoritid-jazo ‘to wrinkle, become ‘to wrinkle, become wizened’, wizened’, vutir-onovutir-ono ‘to butter’, ‘to butter’, karf-ono karf-ono ‘to nail’, ‘to nail’, kse-dhenokse-dheno ‘untie’, ‘untie’, apo-vutir-apo-vutir-onoono ‘skim’, ‘skim’, ek-fort-onoek-fort-ono ‘unload’, etc. ‘unload’, etc.

The crucial role of the The crucial role of the prefixprefix

• Prefixes seem to determine the argument Prefixes seem to determine the argument structure and the meaning of the derived verb:structure and the meaning of the derived verb:

- - non parasyntheticnon parasynthetic – –ízoízo verbs derived from verbs derived from [+human] bases 1. are intransitive and 2. denote [+human] bases 1. are intransitive and 2. denote similative meanings : similative meanings : amerikanízoamerikanízo ‘behave like ‘behave like an American’, an American’, ellinizoellinizo ‘imitate/behave like a ‘imitate/behave like a Greek’ (cf. Efthymiou to appear)Greek’ (cf. Efthymiou to appear)

- - parasyntheticparasynthetic – –ízoízo verbs prefixed by verbs prefixed by ek(s)ek(s)- are - are transitive and express causative meanings: transitive and express causative meanings: ek-ek-xristian-ízoxristian-ízo ‘christianize’ vs. ° ‘christianize’ vs. °xristian-ízoxristian-ízo ‘behave ‘behave like a christian’ (like a christian’ (XristianósXristianós ‘Christian’), cf. also ‘Christian’), cf. also eksellinizoeksellinizo ‘turn into Greek’ and the synonymous ‘turn into Greek’ and the synonymous neologism neologism ellinopióellinopió ‘turn into a Greek’ ‘turn into a Greek’

The crucial role of the The crucial role of the prefix (2)prefix (2)

• the majority of non-parasynthetic –the majority of non-parasynthetic –iazoiazo verbs:verbs:

- are intransitiveare intransitive- their most representative meaning is ‘be their most representative meaning is ‘be

provided with usually unwanted provided with usually unwanted endogenous x or become x’endogenous x or become x’ : e.g. : e.g. ritidjázoritidjázo ‘to wrinkle, become wizened’ , ‘to wrinkle, become wizened’ , laspjázolaspjázo ‘become mash’ ‘become mash’ vsvs..

• parasyntheticparasynthetic – –iazoiazo verbs prefixed by verbs prefixed by kse-kse- are usually transitive and express privative are usually transitive and express privative meanings: meanings: kse-kse-ddond-jond-jááz(o)z(o) ‘ ‘to take one’s teeth to take one’s teeth

out’out’ (cf. Efyhymiou 2010)(cf. Efyhymiou 2010)

Correlation between Correlation between transitivity and transitivity and parasynthesis ?parasynthesis ?

• MGPVs extracted for RDMG (300)MGPVs extracted for RDMG (300)• transitive 277transitive 277

• intransitive 10 intransitive 10 • transitive/intransitive 13transitive/intransitive 13

(Data from Tsakou 2010)(Data from Tsakou 2010)

e.g. e.g. kse-kse-ddond-jond-jááz(o)z(o) ‘ ‘to take one’s teeth out’ (trans.), to take one’s teeth out’ (trans.), kse-kse-port-izoport-izo [-learned’ ‘go out/away from home’ (intr.), [-learned’ ‘go out/away from home’ (intr.), ksekse-fludh-izo-fludh-izo ‘peel, husk’ (+/-trans.) ‘peel, husk’ (+/-trans.)

• Based on the fact that the vast majority of the Based on the fact that the vast majority of the parasynthetic verbs of our corpus are transitiveparasynthetic verbs of our corpus are transitive

we can assume that there is a strong correlation we can assume that there is a strong correlation between transitivity and parasynthesis (in the between transitivity and parasynthesis (in the verbal domain)verbal domain)

The crucial role of the The crucial role of the prefix (3)prefix (3)

• Prefixes determine the register of the Prefixes determine the register of the derived verb:derived verb:

Parasynthetic verbs prefixed by Parasynthetic verbs prefixed by ek(s)ek(s)- and - and epi-epi- are [+learned] : e.g. are [+learned] : e.g. epi-nikel-ono (nickel), ek-dimokrat-izo ‘democatize’

whereas parasynthetic verbs prefixed by whereas parasynthetic verbs prefixed by ksekse- are not learned: e.g. - are not learned: e.g. kse-parad-jazo kse-parad-jazo ‘‘take all the money from someone’ take all the money from someone’ ((parasparas ‘money’[-learned]) ‘money’[-learned])

The register of the prefixThe register of the prefix

• The majority of [+learned] MGPVs prefixed by apo-, ek-, epi- , en- are used in formations of scientific sublanguages / terms translated from French/ English (cf. also Efthymiou 2002).

• e.g. apo-toxin-ono (detoxify), em-fial-ono ‘bottle’ (embouteiller), ek-viomixan-izo (industrialiser), eks-islam-izo (islamiser), ipo-vathm-izo (downgrade), ipo-gramm-izo (souligner/underline), en-idat-ono (hydrater), en-armon-izo (harmoniser), epi-nikel-ono (nickeler)

The role of the suffix The role of the suffix

• It seems that the combination of prefixes and It seems that the combination of prefixes and suffixes is also influenced by the semantics and suffixes is also influenced by the semantics and the selectional restrictions of the suffixes: the selectional restrictions of the suffixes:

e.g. both parasynthetic and non parasynthetic verbs e.g. both parasynthetic and non parasynthetic verbs in –in –iázoiázo tend to exhibit tend to exhibit ‘negative’ meanings (see ‘negative’ meanings (see Efthymiou 2010): Efthymiou 2010): ritidhjázoritidhjázo ‘to wrinkle, become ‘to wrinkle, become

wizened’, wizened’, kse-kse-ddond-jond-jááz(o)z(o) ‘ ‘to take one’s teeth out’to take one’s teeth out’ both parasynthetic and non parasynthetic verbs in –both parasynthetic and non parasynthetic verbs in –

onoono tend to prefer tend to prefer ‘ornative’ meanings (see ‘ornative’ meanings (see Efthymiou to appear): Efthymiou to appear): vutironovutirono ‘to butter’, ‘to butter’, ep-ep-argir-óno argir-óno ‘cover with silver’ ‘cover with silver’

The role of the suffixThe role of the suffix

• Some meanings expressed by non-Some meanings expressed by non-parasynthetic verbs in –parasynthetic verbs in –izo, -iazo, -izo, -iazo, -onoono are not attested in MGPVs: are not attested in MGPVs:

• e.ge.g.. similative similative, , instrumental instrumental meanings: meanings: aristotel-izoaristotel-izo ‘imitate ‘imitate Aristotle’Aristotle’,, karfono karfono ‘to nail’, ‘to nail’,

The frequency of the The frequency of the suffixsuffix

• MGPVs extracted MGPVs extracted from RDMG from RDMG

(300)(300)• Suffix -Suffix -izoizo (144) (144)• Suffix -Suffix -onoono (116) (116)• Suffix -Suffix -iazoiazo (40) (40)

(Data from Tsakou (Data from Tsakou 2010)2010)

• Suffixed verbs Suffixed verbs extracted from extracted from RDMG RDMG (prefixed/compound (prefixed/compound verbs were verbs were eliminated)eliminated)

• --izoizo (3507) 650 (3507) 650• --onoono (2106) 500 (2106) 500• --iazoiazo (2260) 313 (2260) 313

(Data from Efthymiou (Data from Efthymiou to appear)to appear)

combinatorial combinatorial restrictionsrestrictions

• The combination of prefixes and suffixes is restricted The combination of prefixes and suffixes is restricted by register and semantic factors:by register and semantic factors:

1.1. e.g. the [-learned] suffix –e.g. the [-learned] suffix –(i)ázo(i)ázo combines combines onlyonly with with the the [-learned] negative-privative prefix [-learned] negative-privative prefix ksekse- ‘de’ :- ‘de’ :kse-koil-iazokse-koil-iazo ‘disembowel’ ( ‘disembowel’ (koiliakoilia ‘belly’), ‘belly’), kse-parad-kse-parad-jazojazo ‘take all the money from someone’ ( ‘take all the money from someone’ (parasparas ‘money’[-learned]) ‘money’[-learned])

2. e.g. the [+learned] prefix 2. e.g. the [+learned] prefix epiepi- ‘on(to)’ combines - ‘on(to)’ combines almost exclusivelyalmost exclusively with the suffix ‑ with the suffix ‑ónoóno, e.g. , e.g. ep-ep-argir-óno argir-óno ‘cover with silver’ (‘cover with silver’ (árgirosárgiros ‘silver’), ‘silver’), epi-nikel-ono (nickel), which denotes mostly ornative which denotes mostly ornative meanings meanings

3. 3. Kse-Kse- seems to be the only prefix that combines freely seems to be the only prefix that combines freely with all three suffixes under investigationwith all three suffixes under investigation

Combinatorial Combinatorial preferencespreferences

• Apo-Apo- seems to prefer combining with – seems to prefer combining with –onoono: : e.g. e.g. apo-kentr-onoapo-kentr-ono ‘decentralize’, ‘decentralize’, af-omi-af-omi-ono ono ‘assimilate’, ‘assimilate’, apo-ksen-onoapo-ksen-ono ‘alienate’, ‘alienate’, apo-lith-onoapo-lith-ono ‘ossify’ ‘ossify’

But cf. also But cf. also apo-kefal-izoapo-kefal-izo ‘decapitate’ ‘decapitate’

• Ek-Ek- combines preferably with – combines preferably with –izoizo: : ek-dimokrat-izo ‘democratize’, ek-xristian-ízoek-xristian-ízo ‘christianize’ ‘christianize’ , but also eks-athli-ono ‘degrade, make extremely poor/miserable’’ (cf. also Efthymiou 2002)

Preference of certain Preference of certain semantic categoriessemantic categories

• There is a clear tendency of certain There is a clear tendency of certain semantic categories of prefixes to appear semantic categories of prefixes to appear in parasynthetic verbs: i.e. negative and in parasynthetic verbs: i.e. negative and locative prefixes (locative prefixes (kse-, ek-, apo-, en-, kse-, ek-, apo-, en-, epi-,epi-, etc.). etc.).

• The vast majoriry of MGPVs is prefixed The vast majoriry of MGPVs is prefixed by by kse-kse- (110 verbs) (110 verbs)

• Of all MG prefixes Of all MG prefixes kse-kse- seems to be the seems to be the most frequent, followed by most frequent, followed by ek(s)-ek(s)- (58 (58 verbs)verbs),, apo-apo- (39 verbs), (39 verbs), epi-epi- (20 verbs), (20 verbs), and and en-en- (15 verbs) (15 verbs)

Semantic categoriesSemantic categories• The vast majority of PGPVs prefixed by The vast majority of PGPVs prefixed by kse-kse-, , apo-apo-

and and ek(sek(s)- denote privative/ablative (and 2. )- denote privative/ablative (and 2. causative/completive) meanings (cf. also Tsakou causative/completive) meanings (cf. also Tsakou 2010): e.g. 2010): e.g. apo-kentr-onoapo-kentr-ono ‘decentralize’, ‘decentralize’, apo-apo-kefal-izokefal-izo ‘decapitate’, ‘decapitate’, af-omi-ono af-omi-ono ‘assimilate’, ‘assimilate’, apo-apo-ksen-onoksen-ono ‘alienate’, ‘alienate’, apo-lith-onoapo-lith-ono ‘ossify’, ‘ossify’, kse-port-kse-port-izoizo [-learned’ ‘go out/away from home’, [-learned’ ‘go out/away from home’, ek-top-izoek-top-izo ‘dislocate, displace’, ‘dislocate, displace’, ek-stom-izoek-stom-izo ‘utter’ ‘utter’

• Correlation between privation and parasynthesis?Correlation between privation and parasynthesis?

• Very few MGPVs are prefixed by Very few MGPVs are prefixed by dia-, kata-, dia-, kata-, meta-, pros-, para-, peri-, syn-, yper-, ypo-, ana-meta-, pros-, para-, peri-, syn-, yper-, ypo-, ana- : : pros-edaf-izopros-edaf-izo ‘land’, ‘land’, kat-edaf-izokat-edaf-izo ‘demolish’ ‘demolish’

Absent semantic Absent semantic categories (?)categories (?)

• Temporal (Temporal (pro-pro-), quantitative (e.g. ), quantitative (e.g. poly-poly-), evaluative, etc. prefixes are ), evaluative, etc. prefixes are almost absent from the MGPVs of almost absent from the MGPVs of our corpus.our corpus.

Exceptions : Exceptions : ana-ne-onoana-ne-ono [+learned] [+learned] ‘renew’‘renew’

the register of the prefixthe register of the prefix

• may influence the choice of the may influence the choice of the nominalizing suffix that attachesnominalizing suffix that attaches to verbal to verbal parasynthetic bases: parasynthetic bases:

e.g. e.g. apoapo-lep--lep-ízo ízo [+learned][+learned] ‘scale, peel’ - ‘scale, peel’ - apoapo--lepi-lepi-sisi ‘scaling, peeling’‘scaling, peeling’

vsvs. . ksekse-lep-ja-lep-jazo zo [-learned] [-learned] ‘scale’ - ‘scale’ - ksekse--lepjas-lepjas-mama ‘scaling’‘scaling’

apoapo-fli-óno-fli-óno ‘husk, peel’ [+learned]’ – ‘husk, peel’ [+learned]’ – apoapo-flio--flio-sisi ‘ ‘huskinghusking’’

vs. vs. ksekse-fludh-izo-fludh-izo ‘peel, husk’- ‘peel, husk’- ksekse-floudhis--floudhis-mama ‘‘peelingpeeling’’

conclusionconclusion

• In this paper an attempt was made to show that In this paper an attempt was made to show that

1. the distribution of the prefixes and suffixes in 1. the distribution of the prefixes and suffixes in MGPVs is not arbitrary but governed by some MGPVs is not arbitrary but governed by some general principlesgeneral principles

2. the role of the first affix (i.e. the prefix) is more 2. the role of the first affix (i.e. the prefix) is more important than the role of the second (i.e. the important than the role of the second (i.e. the suffix).suffix).

THANK YOU !!THANK YOU !!

ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΩ !!ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΩ !!

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