Overlaps between inflection and derivation: about the so-called gender derivation in Spanish

Abstract

This article discusses the possible derivative functioning of the vocalic morphemes -o and -a, traditionally considered as gender endings, but interpreted, in certain uses (from the gender inflection of animate nouns to the formation of deverbative nouns, such as gasto, paga), as derivative suffixes. Our objective is to demonstrate, through a detailed analysis of the different functions that can be performed by these morphemes in question, that the diversity of opinions about their inflectional or derivative nature reflects, in this case, the existence of a zone of transition between inflection and derivation, whose degrees we also attempt to determine.

Keywords

• español
• formación de palabras
• desinencias de género
• función derivativa