S-Stem Nouns and Adjectives in Greek and Proto-Indo-European: A Diachronic Study in Word Formation

by Torsten Meissner

Overview

This book deals with one aspect of Greek and Proto-Indo-European nominal morphology, the formation, inflection and semantics of s-stem nouns and adjectives. It uncovers the mechanisms of their creation and shows their limitation. The established view that the nouns are an unproductive category is challenged; at the same time, the expanding and partly changing nature of the basis governing the creation of the adjectives is explained. Morphology and semantics are studied in tandem, and a large chronological span of the Greek language is covered. The historical side is then extended into prehistory, and in particular the Greek evidence is tested against recent theories on Proto-Indo-European ablaut, leading to a reassessment of the morphonological characteristics in question.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780191535598
Publisher:	OUP Oxford
Publication date:	04/06/2006
Series:	Oxford Classical Monographs
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

Torsten Meissner is University Lecturer in Classics (Philology and Linguistics), and Fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Table of Contents

Prologue: The Study of a Suffix1. The History2. The Neuter S-Stem Nouns3. The Animate S-Stem Nouns4. The S-Stem AdjectivesEpilogue: Combining the Threads

Editorial Reviews

"This is an extremely interesting book with a good index of roots and words discussed."—Martti Leiwo, The Classical Review

From the Publisher