Word-formation. Vol. 1, History, theories, units and processes in SearchWorks catalog
searchworks.stanford.edu
This Stanford catalog entry for a landmark linguistics volume reveals how the building blocks of language are systematically created — and why theories of word-formation matter for understanding human cognition and communication.
Morphological TheoryLinguistic ProductivityConstructionist GrammarCognitive Linguistics
Theory Briefing
- Word-formation Vol. 1 covers 470 pages of history, theories, units, and processes — a comprehensive map of how languages manufacture new words.
- The study of word-formation sits at the crossroads of morphology and cognition, revealing how humans instinctively chunk meaning into reusable units.
- Understanding word-formation processes like derivation and compounding underpins theories of linguistic productivity and how vocabularies endlessly expand.