Adjective Formation Modes in Modern Spanish: Base Lexemes and Derivative Bases

The suffix as a linguistic unit is defined, & a corpus of 47 adjectival suffixes active in Modern Spanish is established. An attempt is made to systematize the derivative process & formation modes involving these formants, & a hierarchy of their occurrence in Contemporary Spanish is proposed. Four phases are distinguished in the derivative process of Spanish adjectives: (1) the base lexeme, (2) derivative base, (3) derivative theme, & (4) derivative. It is noted that stages (1) & (4) represent concrete lexical forms existing in the Spanish lexicons, whereas (2) & (3) are abstract constructs for the purpose of the analysis of the derivative process. The transition from (1) to (2) is examined in detail to determine the phonological & suprasegmental changes occurring when the base lexeme becomes a derivative base. 4 Tables, 1 Figure, 29 References. Z. Dubiel