Interfix

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In linguistics, an interfix is a component of a word that appears to convey the connection of parts of the word that cannot directly adjoin one another. Interfixes typically have no other independent meaning, so they represent a problem case for the traditional definition of the morpheme , which emphasizes that a morpheme is an element that is defined by a constant meaning or grammatical function. As a rule, however, interfixes are viewed as affixes .

Haspelmath (2002) defines Interfix relatively narrowly as a meaningless affix between the two components of a noun compound (N + N). At the same time, these elements are also characterized as a suffix on the first component. Examples are then the German forms Rettung s boot , Tanne n baum . At this point, the definition coincides with the term fugue morpheme (which, tellingly, is sometimes only called fugue sound ).

In addition, the term Interfix is ​​also used for morphemes between the word stem and suffix, such as in German regn er isch (before the derivative morphem -isch ) or in Latin port a re (as a theme vowel before the infinitive ending). The elements mentioned are also often included in the suffixes themselves.

Thus, the interfix is ​​less of a position type, but more of a functional type of affixes. As already mentioned, the position type is usually that of a suffix . The status as a suffix can sometimes be proven in German in the coordination of word parts: Interfixes then remain at the end of the first word part. Examples:

  • Fugenmorphem: Besprechung.s.raum / meeting s- and conference room
  • Forming a Satzadverbs from an adjective: klug.er.weise / smart ER and predictive as

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Hans Christian Luschützky, Morphem, Morph and Allomorph , in: Geert Booij & al. (Ed.), Morphology: an international handbook on inflection and word formation , Berlin / New York 2000, ISBN 3-11-011128-4 , pp. 457 f. .
  2. ↑ Martin Haspelmath: Understanding Morphology. Oxford University Press, 2002, p. 285.
  3. ↑ Haspelmath 2002, p. 100.
  4. ^ Michael Lohde: Word formation of modern German: a textbook and exercise book , Tübingen 2006, ISBN 3-8233-6211-9 , p. 187 .
  5. ^ Wilhelm Geuder: A kind of part of speech: The adverb in German. In: Zeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft 38-2 (2019): 191–241. online See p. 211.