The Suffixes -ismus and -ita in Nouns in Czech

Abstract

This chapter documents the interplay between borrowing and word formation on the example of the suffixes -ismus and -ita, which are listed among the most common suffixes in loan nouns in Czech. The suffixes are both used to form abstract nouns but differ in many aspects. The suffix -ismus combines with bases that form larger derivational families than those of -ita but still most nouns in -ita share their root with several other derivatives, too. By analysing selected derivatives and their mutual relations across a large amount of derivational families, the study demonstrates that the size and inner structure of derivational families can provide significant knowledge about the meaning of the formations analysed. The meanings of the suffixes are described by patterns which involve the most relevant derivatives with explicitly marked derivational relations. Using the patterns, it is possible to explain semantic nuances that have not been described with loan words in Czech so far.