VOL. 62, BOOK 1, PART B, 2024, pp. 138 – 151 Full text (En)
Author: Maria Kolarova
Affiliation: St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia
Abstract
The paper studies the morphological status of the elements -(a)thon, -preneur, -tainment and -zilla in present-day English. The elements in question behave very much like suffixes, frequently appearing in creative and often playful neologisms. By analysing their behaviour, with a focus on their origin, the types of morphs they combine with and the meanings they convey, this study aims to assess how closely -(a)thon, -preneur, -tainment and -zilla align with fully-fledged suffixes in present-day English word-formation.
Key words: suffix, combining form, splinter, English word-formation
