The Derivational Morphology of the Maa Noun

Abstract

Although ordinary dictionary writers do not take the risk of actually predic ting or anticipating new forms before they are attested, it is clear that there exist certain quite clear processes by which new words are born from old ones. These processes are called processes of derivation. In this paper. I will try to analyze the processes of derivation by noting that derivation is usually not one process, but three simultaneous processes, namely: morphological, syntactic and sernannc. This is an introduction to fundamental concepts in the study of derivational morphology of the Maa nouns. It seeks to develop ideas and arguments so that the reader can gain a feeling for how these nouns are derived from verbs and adjectives. One problem includes the dividing-line between derivational morphology and syntax. Another problem addressed is concerned with the means of derivation (i.e. infix, prefix or suffix).