Adjective formation and lexical layers in Old English

Résumé

This journal article identifies two kinds of mismatch form-function in the formation of Old English adjectives. Convergent derivation is found when the meanings of derivatives converge in spite of the motivated morphological alternation that holds between their respective bases of derivation. Redundant derivation applies when an affix is attached that contributes the same meaning as another affix which has already been added to the base of derivation. The instances of convergent and redundant derivation analyzed in this work represent evidence in favour of the existence of two lexical layers in the Old English lexicon, namely the layer of affixless derivation and the layer of affixal derivation. The layer of affixless derivation, in turn, can be subdivided into the component of zero derivation proper and the component of derivation by inflectional means. Other conclusions of this research have to do with the patterns of recursive derivation in adjective formation, the insertion, combination and suppression of strong verb prefixes and the grammaticalization of -bœ̄re, -cund, -feald, -teas, -lic, -sum, -weard, -welle, -wende and -wīs. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.