Projekt Monika Cross-linguistic research into derivational networks (Mirror site to UPJS's project site)

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Project profile

This is a 3-year international project initiated by Šafarik University, Košice, Slovakia, the University of Sofia, Bulgaria, and the University of Granada, Spain. The project is part of an official bid under several R+D programs, and is intended to further the knowledge in its area in two ways: i.  by exploring a new concept in derivational morphology theoretically (derivational networks); and ii. by exploring its applicability cross-linguistically on a sample of European languages of a range of genera. Specifically, the project is aimed at the evaluation of the paradigmatic capacity, the derivational degree, and the saturation value of derivational networks in selected lexical fields in the languages of Europe. Paradigmatic capacity is understood as a system of complex words derived independently from a single WF base. This includes all direct derivations from a single WF base (vertical dimension), e.g. Slovak dom ‘house’: dom-ov                                   ‘home’ dom-ček                                 ‘little house’ dom-ík                                    ‘little house’ dom-isko                                 ‘large house’ dom-ov (adverb of direction)  ‘towards one’s home’ Derivational degree means all linear (successive) derivations from a single WF base, e.g.:  dom ‘house’ > dom-ov ‘home’ > dom-ov-ina ‘homeland’ > dom-ov-in-ový ‘related to homeland’. Derivation network is an intersection of the paradigmatic capacity and the derivational degree (see the attached example for Slovak and English). The project intends to cover 40 European languages and a sample of 10 simple (underived) nouns, 10 simple verbs and 10 simple adjectives. Words belonging to one word-class will at the same time belong to one lexical field. Each language will be represented by one informant/collaborator whose tasks are to: i. produce a derivational network for each of 30 sample words (as indicated in the attached examples); ii. identify individual derivations by semantic categories (see the attached example) according to a list of semantic categories that will be supplied to each informant. In case that a significant semantic category (associated with systematic instances of derivation) is found missing, an informant/collaborator can add the category, providing an appropriate label, a definition and justification for the introduction of the new category; iii. comment on the results also in terms of the WF characteristics of the particular language. Each language and its evaluation will represent a single chapter. For a full-detail description of a derivational network based on the Slovak example čítať 'to read', please download an example of a derivational network (opens as .xl file). Each contributor can prove the existence of a derived word (and, by implication, the productivity of a particular derivational paradigm) by using any source (corpus, dictionary, Google, in that order). Each chapter will have the same structure. For details, see our FAQs page.