The development of the suffix –erni in Icelandic

Ellert Þór Jóhannsson

The development of the suffix –erni in Icelandic

Institut for Nordiske Studier og Sprogvidenskab

Abstract

This paper investigates the suffix –erni in Icelandic, its origin, and development from the period of Old Norse to Modern Icelandic. This suffix is most often used to derive a neuter noun from nouns and adjectives with the meaning ‘belonging to’ e.g. faðir ‘father’ => faðerni ‘fatherhood’. By taking a closer look at source material and evaluating words formed with this suffix in their textual context we are able to identify and observe the processes involved in the establishment and spread of this derivational pattern.
The current study illustrates how the suffix spreads through different stages to establish a clear derivational pattern that is productively used in the language to form new words. Having access to continuous written material in Icelandic from ca. 1200 to 2011 gives us the possibility to track this process through time and follow each step in the development.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Publikationsdato	2012
Antal sider	1
Status	Udgivet - 2012
Begivenhed	11th International Conference of Nordic and General Linguistics - Freiburg, Freiburg, Tyskland Varighed: 18 apr. 2012 → 20 apr. 2012 Konferencens nummer: 11

Konference

Konference	11th International Conference of Nordic and General Linguistics
Nummer	11
Lokation	Freiburg
Land/Område	Tyskland
By	Freiburg
Periode	18/04/2012 → 20/04/2012

Emneord

Det Humanistiske Fakultet
suffix
Old Norse
Morphology

Citationsformater

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title = "The development of the suffix –erni in Icelandic",

abstract = "This paper investigates the suffix –erni in Icelandic, its origin, and development from the period of Old Norse to Modern Icelandic. This suffix is most often used to derive a neuter noun from nouns and adjectives with the meaning {\textquoteleft}belonging to{\textquoteright} e.g. fa{\dh}ir {\textquoteleft}father{\textquoteright} => fa{\dh}erni {\textquoteleft}fatherhood{\textquoteright}. By taking a closer look at source material and evaluating words formed with this suffix in their textual context we are able to identify and observe the processes involved in the establishment and spread of this derivational pattern. The current study illustrates how the suffix spreads through different stages to establish a clear derivational pattern that is productively used in the language to form new words. Having access to continuous written material in Icelandic from ca. 1200 to 2011 gives us the possibility to track this process through time and follow each step in the development.",

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author = "J{\'o}hannsson, {Ellert {\TH}{\'o}r}",

year = "2012",

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note = "11th International Conference of Nordic and General Linguistics ; Conference date: 18-04-2012 Through 20-04-2012",

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T1 - The development of the suffix –erni in Icelandic

AU - Jóhannsson, Ellert Þór

N1 - Conference code: 11

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - This paper investigates the suffix –erni in Icelandic, its origin, and development from the period of Old Norse to Modern Icelandic. This suffix is most often used to derive a neuter noun from nouns and adjectives with the meaning ‘belonging to’ e.g. faðir ‘father’ => faðerni ‘fatherhood’. By taking a closer look at source material and evaluating words formed with this suffix in their textual context we are able to identify and observe the processes involved in the establishment and spread of this derivational pattern. The current study illustrates how the suffix spreads through different stages to establish a clear derivational pattern that is productively used in the language to form new words. Having access to continuous written material in Icelandic from ca. 1200 to 2011 gives us the possibility to track this process through time and follow each step in the development.

AB - This paper investigates the suffix –erni in Icelandic, its origin, and development from the period of Old Norse to Modern Icelandic. This suffix is most often used to derive a neuter noun from nouns and adjectives with the meaning ‘belonging to’ e.g. faðir ‘father’ => faðerni ‘fatherhood’. By taking a closer look at source material and evaluating words formed with this suffix in their textual context we are able to identify and observe the processes involved in the establishment and spread of this derivational pattern. The current study illustrates how the suffix spreads through different stages to establish a clear derivational pattern that is productively used in the language to form new words. Having access to continuous written material in Icelandic from ca. 1200 to 2011 gives us the possibility to track this process through time and follow each step in the development.

KW - Faculty of Humanities

KW - suffix

KW - Old Norse

KW - Morphology

M3 - Conference abstract for conference

T2 - 11th International Conference of Nordic and General Linguistics

Y2 - 18 April 2012 through 20 April 2012

ER -