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Lexicalization patterns in color naming: A cross-linguistic perspective
Edited by Ida Raffaelli, Daniela Katunar and Barbara Kerovec
[Studies in Functional and Structural Linguistics 78] 2019
► pp. 61–82

Compound color terms in Italian

| University of L’Aquila
| University of Roma Tre

The present paper is dedicated to compound color terms in Italian. The aim is to give a descriptive overview of the characteristics of the individual compounding patterns both from the synchronic and the diachronic point of view. According to our preliminary research (cf. Grossmann, 1988; D’Achille & Grossmann, 2013), in contemporary Italian compounding is the most commonly used device for enlarging the inventory of color terms. Data from corpora show that we are dealing with constructions at the crossroads between word-formation and syntax, i.e., between compounding proper and asyndetic coordination. From a diachronic point of view, we have ascertained that compound color terms appear with a certain frequency only from the 18th century onwards; in earlier times they are attested only by a few examples and in a limited number of patterns.

Keywords: color terms, Italian, word-formation patterns, compounding
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction and brief survey of the literature
  • 2.Color terms formed by means of morphological devices
    • 2.1Derivation
      • 2.1.1Deadjectival adjectives
      • 2.1.2Denominal adjectives
      • 2.1.3Deverbal adjectives
    • 2.2Conversion
    • 2.3Compounding
      • 2.3.1Relationship between the constituents
        • 2.3.1.1Coordinate compounds.
        • 2.3.1.2Attributive compounds
      • 2.3.2Morphosyntactic characteristics
  • 3.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 9 October 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/sfsl.78.04gro
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