Evaluative Compounding in Dutch: Productivity and Competition in Simile-Based Constructions
(2026) SKASE Journal of Theoretical Linguistics — Vol. 23, n° 4, p. 49-65 (2026)
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- Although compounding is one of the most common word-formation processes, its role in evaluative formation is often considered marginal. Yet, in some languages, compounding serves as an important source of evaluative morphology. This paper investigates evaluative compounding in Dutch through two case studies, focusing on its productivity and interaction with corresponding phrasal constructions. The first case study summarizes findings from previous research on nominal ameliorative compounds and their binominal phrasal counterparts (e.g., een prachtvrouw 'lit. a beauty-woman' vs. een pracht van een vrouw 'a beauty of a woman'). The second case study provides a new corpus-based study of adjectival evaluative compounds expressing intensification through comparison-so-called "similes" or "elative compounds" (Hoeksema 2012)-and their phrasal equivalents (e.g., apetrots 'lit. monkey-proud' vs. zo trots als een pauw 'as proud as a peacock'). Our findings reveal consistent tendencies: in general, evaluative phrasal patterns are more flexible, productive and creative, whereas evaluative compounds, though frequently attested in Dutch, are often (semi-)lexicalized and may involve grammaticalized affixoids. Furthermore, phrasal constructions favor animate fillers, while evaluative compounds attract inanimate fillers, suggesting a functional division of labour between both patterns. At the level of specific expressions, however, the relationship becomes far more complex, and may be characterized by overlap, competition, or divergence.
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Goethem, K. (2026). Evaluative Compounding in Dutch: Productivity and Competition in Simile-Based Constructions. SKASE Journal of Theoretical Linguistics, 23(4), 49-65. https://doi.org/10.33542/JTL2026-S2-04 (Original work published 2026)