Exercises class 9
1.The Italian word for ‘‘tomato’’ is pomodoro (plural pomodori). Its original form is pomo
d’oro‘‘apple of gold’’. Why can’t we assume this lexical unit is still phrasal in nature?
Source: Booij 2007
2.The Dutch compound scheidsrechter ‘‘referee’’ consists of the verbal stem scheid ‘‘to separate’’
and the noun rechter ‘‘judge’’. The linking element between the two constituents is s. Why can’t we
say that this sis a lexicalized genitive case ending, and why must it be seen as a stem extension or
linking element?
Source: Booij 2007
3. How many meanings can you come up with for the complex compound miniature poodle groomer
manual? Try to draw the trees that correspond to each meaning you’ve come up with
Source: Lieber 2009
4. Classify the compounds below as attributive, coordinative, or subordinative, and as either
endocentric or exocentric.
Example: book shelf is an endocentric attributive compound; truck driver is an endocentric
subordinate compound.
lighthouse
blue blood
scholar athlete
blue-eyed
pickpocket
house-hunting
Source: Lieber 2009
5. Compare the following two sentences from Yucatec, a Mexican language (Mithun 1984: 858):
k-in-č’ak-Ø-k
če’
INCOMP-I-chop-it-IMPF
tree
‘‘I chop the tree in my cornfield’’
ičil
in
k-in-č’ak-če’-t-ik
INCOMP-I-chop-tree-TR-IMPF
‘‘I clear my cornfield’’
in-kool
my-cornfield
in-kool
my-cornfield
Explain the differences between these two almost identical sentences.
Source: Booij 2007
6. Consider the following Italian verb–noun compound:
[[spazza]V[camino]N]N ‘‘lit. sweep chimney, chimney sweep(er)’’.
Is this an endocentric or anexocentric compound?
Source: Booij 2007