Contra de linguïstische preutsheid: Over -gate en andere libfixen

Against linguistic prudishness. About -gate and other libfixes This study aims to discuss libfixing as a non-morphemic process of word formation. Libfixes are ‘liberated’ elements that originate from the reanalysis of existing words, usually opaque forms or blends. A well-known example of a libfix is -gate from Watergate, whose borrowing and spreading in Dutch has been discussed by Hüning (2000). Among the other examples that are discussed are English -cation as in mancation, Franken- as in Frankenfood and Dutch -naise as in yogonaise and -talië as in Kapitalië. This contribution shows how widespread the process of libfixing is. Moreover, it is claimed that libfixing operates systematically and can therefore be a subject of morphological analysis and theory. In addition, it is shown in this analysis that it is irrelevant whether a new formation is consciously formed or that it is the result of an unconscious productive process. What counts is whether the neologism is acceptable as a word in the language in question. Examples that are discussed in this article come from English and Dutch.