Word Formation and Semantic Features of Composites in Verbal Word-Forming Nests With the Base Word ‘Lyubit’/ ‘Lieben’ in Russian and German

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the word formation, semantic, and stylistic features of words with complex bases within Russian and German verb nests, centered around the base verbs lyubit’ / lieben (‘to love’). This research unveils the word-forming and semantic potential of these base verbs by analyzing their complex derivatives and comparing the composites derived from lyubit’ and lieben. Empirical data were collected through continuous sampling, and the word formation analysis method was employed to describe the formation processes of the units in question. Epidigmatic analysis was utilized to examine their semantic structures, complemented by quantitative assessments of frequency and distribution. The findings indicate that word composition is the predominant method of forming complex words in both languages’ verb nests, with a notable prevalence of composite nouns that exhibit a subordinate relationship between bases and are monosemantic. The study also reveals that while fusion is a method of producing composites in Russian, in German, it is limited to compound words. Reduplication, as seen in Russian composites like lyubish-ne-lyubish (‘love-not-love’), is absent in German. The study concludes, that the analyzed words are integral to the professional lexicon of psychologists, criminologists, biologists, botanists, and others. Beyond their terminological meanings, these complex lexemes encapsulate cultural concepts that mirror the mentalities of Russian and German speakers. Recognizing these concepts is crucial for effective communication across various fields, particularly in professional contexts.

Keywords

• composites
• word-formation nest
• methods of formation
• polysemy
• sphere of functioning
• semantic structure
• derivatology
• complex derivatives