PREFIXATION VERSUS COMPOUNDING: A CASE STUDY FROM THE DIALECTS OF AIVALI AND MOSCHONISIA

Abstract

In this paper we deal with a borderline case between prefixation and compounding in the dialectal varieties of Lesbos, Kydonies (Aivali) and Moschonisia, namely with the addition of an element sa- to a number of locative adverbs. We show that sa- displays most of the apparent characteristics of a prefix, without having acquired a full functional status yet, and claim that the sa- formations may be considered as instances of the relatively unknown phenomenon of morphological creativity. We further argue that the dialectal varieties with sa- locative adverbs are situated in the middle of a morphological continuum. One pole of the particular continuum displays dialects with a full prefix sa- or s(j)o-, where Cretan belongs. The other pole is occupied by Standard Modern Greek and dialects where is(j)a, the adverb where sa- derives from, is still an autonomous word, such as Corfiot.