The role of –(s)I in Turkish indefinite nominal compounds

Aslan, E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4174-5493 and Altan, A. (2006) The role of –(s)I in Turkish indefinite nominal compounds. Language Journal, 131. pp. 57-75. ISSN 1300-3542 doi: 10.1501/Dilder_0000000049

Abstract/Summary

This paper intends to clarify the distinction between the third person possessive suffix -(s)I attached to nouns to indicate possession and the compound marker, CM, - (s)I used to construct lexicalized nominal compounds by stating their basic semantic and structural differences. To demonstrate the lexicalizing effect of the CM attached to nominal compounds, fifty native Turkish speakers irrespective of age, gender, and educational background were administered a questionnaire. In this questionnaire some nominal compounds, either the head or the modifier parts of which were imparted as blanks, were given to these subjects and they were asked to fill in the blanks with appropriate words. The aim was to find out whether some nominal compounds were more lexicalized than others. The analysis revealed that – (s)I in nominal compounds functions as a compounding marker rather than indicating possession and it has the effect of lexicalizing these compound structures.