On the importance of leader words in word formation: The popular transmission of the Latin abstract-forming suffix -io in French

Abstract

In this article, we trace the origin and development of the French abstract-forming suffix -aison and its collateral forms. Based on derivational inventories for Latin and French, we analyse formal and historical aspects of this suffix group as well as its semantics and its productivity throughout the centuries. Special attention will be devoted to methodological questions concerning the investigation of suffix transmission from Latin to Romance.