The Case of Old English N-stem Masculine Derivatives: A typological contribution to categorization in English word-formation

Abstract

The paper redefines the Old English formative -a, marking n-stem masculine derivatives, both as a derivational and inflectional marker. It surveys its derivational functions in Proto-Germanic and Old English, demonstrating that it had not given up its double function, which was fully in keeping with the inflectional typological tenor of the earliest English, until the Early Middle English period.

Keywords

• Old English n-stem masculine derivatives
• typological
• categorization English word-formation