A Study on Compound Substantives in English: Inaugural Dissertation (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Nils Bergsten

9780267813056: A Study on Compound Substantives in English: Inaugural Dissertation (Classic Reprint)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0267813058 ISBN 13: 9780267813056

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

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Unlock the structure of English compounds and how they work in this scholarly study of appellative compound substantives.

This edition analyzes how these words are formed, classified, and understood across English history, offering clear criteria and careful discussion of competing theories.

The work frames a precise definition of a compound word and pits formal isolation against semantic relation, showing how English poses unique challenges for classification. It surveys major approaches, cites key critics, and clarifies where consensus ends and debate begins. Readers will gain a grounded sense of the field's methods, terminology, and long-standing questions.

Across sections, the author examines both traditional and contested examples, from everyday phrases to literary coinages, and discusses how compounds evolve over time. The result is a rigorous, accessible reference for students and scholars of historical linguistics, lexicography, and English language studies.

How compounds are distinguished from word groups and from derivatives
Different definitions of what counts as a compound in English
Historical perspectives on formation, usage, and classification
Examples drawn from literature and historical sources to illustrate principles

Ideal for readers of historical linguistics, English grammar, and lexicography seeking a thoughtful, evidence-based look at compound substantives.

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