VOL. 63, BOOK 1, PART B, 2025, pp. 127 – 140 Full text (En)
Author: Maria Kolarova
Affiliation: St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia
Abstract
This paper seeks to broaden our understanding of the combinatorial properties of the well-studied suffix –ness in contemporary English by exploring unusual formations of the types multi-ness or un-ness as well as be-ness or could-ness. Drawing on data from the NOW corpus, iWeb and Sketch Engine, the study investigates the semantic nuances and morphological peculiarities of these formations. It further highlights how the high productivity of the native suffix -ness has led to creativity in contemporary English word-formation.
Key words: –ness, prefixal morphemes, modal verbs, morphological creativity
