The Journal of Linguistics

SUBMITINFORMATION
EnglishTürkçe

Research Article


DOI :10.26650/jol.2023.1441684   IUP :10.26650/jol.2023.1441684    Full Text (PDF)

Word Formation in Esperanto: Derivation

Yunus Biçer

Esperanto (1887), besides being a constructed language designed as an intellectual and artistic production of the human mind, has been a subject of research and analysis that has attracted the attention of researchers in terms of its distinctive characteristics. This study examines the derivational appearances among the word-formation methods within the working mechanism of Esperanto in a descriptive and comparative manner. In this respect, the bound morphemes of suffixes and prefixes have been analysed from morphosemantic perspectives. Related morphemes have been described in terms of the novel meanings they bring to the conceptual fields of roots/stems and the behavioural restrictions they exhibit during the derivational processes. Considering the quantitative scale of the morphemes in the language, only those classified as official affixes in Wennergren (2005) have been included. Semantic categories in Bagasheva et al. (2017) have been used as a theoretical framework to label semantic information processed by morphemes into roots/stems. Findings, as the final stage, have been evaluated in terms of morphemic polysemy and homonymy, questioning Esperanto’s position against natural languages. Contrastive analyses have concluded that Esperanto behaves like a natural language in derivational processes.

Keywords: Esperanto, constructed language, morphology, word-formation methods, derivation
DOI :10.26650/jol.2023.1441684   IUP :10.26650/jol.2023.1441684    Full Text (PDF)

Esperanto’da Söz Yapımı: Türetme

Yunus Biçer

Esperanto (1887), insan zihninin düşünsel ve sanatsal bir üretimi olarak tasarlanan yapay bir dil olmasının yanı sıra yapısında barındırdığı kendine özgü özellikler bakımından da araştırmacıların ilgisini üzerine çeken bir araştırma ve inceleme konusu olmuştur. Bu çalışma, dilin varlığını sürdürebilmesi için vazgeçilmez bir konumda bulunan söz yapım yolları arasından türetme yönteminin Esperanto’nun çalışma düzeneği içerisindeki görünümlerini betimlemeli ve karşılaştırmalı olarak irdeleme amacı gütmektedir. Bu doğrultuda Esperanto’nun sözvarlığına yeni sözlükbirim üyeleri katmak için işlettiği sonek ve önek türünden bağımlı biçimbirimler, anlambilgisel ve biçimbilgisel açılardan ele alınmıştır. Söz konusu biçimbirimler, kök/gövde yapılarının kavram alanlarına kazandırdıkları yeni anlamlar ve türetme işlemleri sırasında sergiledikleri davranışsal sınırlılıklar bakımından betimlenmiştir. Dilin sahip olduğu biçimbirimlerin niceliksel boyutu göz önünde bulundurularak yalnızca Wennergren (2005)’te resmî ekler olarak sınıflandırılan biçimbirimler çalışma kapsamına alınmıştır. Biçimbirimlerin kök/gövde yapılarına işledikleri anlamsal bilgileri etiketlemek için Bagasheva ve ark. (2017)’deki anlamsal ulamlar çalışmanın kuramsal çerçevesi olarak kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın son aşaması olarak betimlemeli incelemeler sonucunda elde edilen bulgular biçimbirimlerin sergiledikleri çokanlamlılık ve eşanlamlılık davranışları bağlamında değerlendirilerek Esperanto’nun doğal diller karşısındaki konumu sorgulanmıştır. Gerçekleştirilen karşıtsal çözümlemelere dayanarak Esperanto’nun türetme süreçlerinde doğal bir dil gibi davrandığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Keywords: Esperanto, yapay dil, biçimbilim, söz yapım yolları, türetme

EXTENDED ABSTRACT


Esperanto (1887) is a constructed language that was first and foremost designed as an intellectual and artistic production of the human mind to facilitate communication difficulties between people whose first languages are different from each other. Since the birth of the language, it has been a subject of research and analysis that has attracted the attention of researchers because of its distinctive linguistic, cultural, social, and political characteristics. Setting off from these realities, this study aims to examine the appearances of derivational practises–which is in an indispensable position for a language to continue its existence in evolutionary development, as one of the word-formation methods within the working mechanism of Esperanto in both a descriptive and comparative manner.

In this respect, the bound morphemes in the forms of suffixes and prefixes that Esperanto employs to add novel lexeme members to its vocabulary have been analysed from morphological and semantic perspectives. Related morphemes have been described in terms of the novel meanings they bring to the conceptual fields of root/stem structures and the behavioural restrictions they exhibit during the derivational processes. In these descriptions, Gledhilll (2000), Wennergren (2005), and Kellerman (2008) have been used as reference sources for grammatical definitions. Each morpheme has been exemplified with lexical items from the online dictionaries of Reta-Vortaro [Net Dictionary] (reta-vortaro.de) and Plena Ilustrita Vortaro de Esperanto [Complete Illustrated Dictionary of Esperanto] (vortaro.net). Dural (2019) has used Turkish equivalents to these lexical items. Furthermore, all the lexical items have been provided with example sentences from Tekstaro de Esperanto [Corpus of Esperanto] (tekstaro.com), which is a comprehensive compilation of original and translated written works in the Esperanto language with a total of 12,473,421 words; these example sentences have also been translated into Turkish. As for the scope and limitations of the study, only official affixes in Wennergren (2005) have been included in the sample of the study considering the quantitative scale of the morphemes that the language possesses.

Consequently, the study has focussed on the following morphemes: {-aĉ-}, {-ad-}, {-aĵ-}, {-an-}, {-ar-}, {-ĉj-}, {-ebl-}, {-ec-}, {-eg-}, {-ej-}, {-em-}, {-end-}, {-er-}, {-estr-}, {-et-}, {-id-}, {-ig-}, {-iĝ-}, {-il-}, {-in}, {-ind-}, {-ing-}, {-ism-}, {-ist-}, {-nj-}, {-obl-}, {-on-}, {-op-}, {-uj-}, {-ul-} and {-um-} as the suffixes; and {bo-}, {ĉef-}, {dis-}, {ek-}, {eks-}, {ge-}, {mal-}, {miş-}, {pra-} and {re-} as the prefixes. To label the semantic information that the morphemes process into the root/stem structures, semantic categories in Bagasheva et al. (2017)–proposed within the scope of the derivational network project (Körtvélyessyet al., 2020)–have been used as the theoretical framework of the study. In total, 34 semantic categories were used to label the semantic characteristics of the bound morphemes.

As the final stage of the study, findings have been evaluated in terms of polysemy and homonymy behaviours exhibited by the morphemes, and Esperanto’s position against natural languages has been questioned. Rather than “one-to-one” principle, Esperanto’s bound morpheme inventory shows the features of “one-to-many” in polysemous and “many-to-many” in synonymous formations. As an example of the former case, {-ec-} has the derivational power to fulfil the semantic functions of STATIVE, ABSTRACTION, TEMPORAL and SIMILATIVE in different derivational environments. The latter case, on the other hand, has been detected in the independent morphemes of {-an-}, {-estr-}, and {-ist-}, all of which are agentive markers; however, they differ from each other in that the first has the semantic detail of “supporter of x,” the second “the manager of y,” and the third “the professional of z.” In conclusion, contrastive analyses between Esperanto as an epitome of constructed languages and natural languages such as Turkish and English have concluded that Esperanto behaves like a natural language in derivational processes.


PDF View

References

  • Akdeniz, D., ve Qokbankir §engul, N. (2023). Mitoloji ve ortak biliny: Homeros ve Vergilius’un Aeneas’i. Belgu, (Ozel Sayi), 295-304. google scholar
  • Bagasheva, A., Kortvelyessy, L., Stekauer, P. ve Valera, S. (2017). Semantic categories (update) [Excel Dosyasi]. Erijim tarihi: 2023, 18 Aralik. Erijim adresi: https://www.ugr.es/~svalera/Monika/downloads/ Semantic%20categories_Revised_12_May_2017.xlsx google scholar
  • Brown, R. (2006). Glossopoeia & glossopoeic languages. Erijim tarihi: 2024, 31 Ocak. Erijim adresi: http:// www.carolandray.plus.com/Glosso/Glossopoeia.html google scholar
  • Corsetti, R. (1996). A mother tongue spoken mainly by fathers. Language Problems and Language Planning, 20(3), 263-273. google scholar
  • Corsetti, R., Pinto, M. A. ve Tolomeo, M. (2004). Regularizing the regular: the phenomenon of overregularization in Esperanto-speaking children, Language Problems & Language Planning, 28(3), 261-282. google scholar
  • Crystal, D. (2008). A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics (6. Baski). Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. google scholar
  • Dural, H. (2019). Esperanto Turkqe Sozluk. Ankara: Gece Kitapligi. google scholar
  • Fitch, W. T. (2010). The Evolution of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. google scholar
  • Gledhilll, C. (2000). Grammar of Esperanto: A Corpus-Based Description. Erijim tarihi: 2023, 3 Aralik. Erijim adresi: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328306566_The_Grammar_of_Esperanto_A_corpus-based_description google scholar
  • Gobbo, F. (2020). Introduction to Interlinguistics. Munih: GRIN Verlag. google scholar
  • Guinard, T. (2016). An algorithm for morphological segmentation of Esperanto words. The Prague Bulletin of Mathematical Linguistics, 105, 63-76. google scholar
  • Gundogdu, A. E. (2023). Turkyede [-CIK] kuyultme biyimbiriminin biyim-anlambilimsel ijlevleri. Turkqe Uygulamali Dilbilim Dergisi, 1(1), 59-74. google scholar
  • Hatiboglu, V. (1974/1981). Turkqenin Ekleri (2. Baski). Ankara: Turk Dil Kurumu Yayinlari. google scholar
  • imer, K., Kocaman, A. ve Ozsoy, A. S. (2011). Dilbilim Sozlugu. istanbul: Bogaziyi Universitesi Yayinevi. google scholar
  • Jansen, W. (2016). Derivation in the lexicon: The case of Esperanto. Linguistics, 54(5), 1101-1133. google scholar
  • Janton, P. (1992). Esperanto: Language, Literature, and Community (H. Tonkin, J. Edwards ve K. Johnson-Weiner, Qev.). Albeny: State University of New York Press. google scholar
  • Kapan, A. (2019). Derivational Networks of Nouns and Adjectives in Turkish (Yayimlanmamij Yuksek Lisans Tezi). Bogaziyi Universitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitusu, istanbul. google scholar
  • Kellerman, I. (2008). A Complete Grammar of Esperanto: The International Language. Whitefish: Kessinger Publishing. google scholar
  • Korkmaz, Z. (1992). Gramer Terimleri Sozlugu. Ankara: Turk Dil Kurumu. google scholar
  • Korkmaz, Z. (2003/2009). Turkiye Turkqesi Grameri $ekil Bilgisi (3. Baski). Ankara: Turk Dil Kurumu Yayinlari. google scholar
  • Koutny, I. (2015). A typological description of Esperanto as a natural language. J^zyk. Komunikacja. Informacja, 10, 43-62. google scholar
  • Kortvelyessy, L., Bagasheva, A. ve Stekauer, P. (2020). Introduction. L. Kortvelyessy, P Stekauer ve S. Valera (Ed.), Derivational Networks Across Languages iyinde (s. 1-26). Berlin, Boston: Walter de Gruyter. google scholar
  • McGlinch, A. (2021). Kial mi decidis eklerni Esperanton or, Why I Decided to Start Learning Esperanto. Erijim tarihi: 2024, 1 Ocak. Erijim adresi: https://medium.eom/@antmcglinch/kial-mi-decidis-eklerni— esperanton-or-why-i-decided-to-start-learning-esperanto-893602553049 google scholar
  • Merriam-Webster (MW). (t.y.). Anglicism. Merriam-Webster.comDictionary icinde. Erijim tarihi: 2023, 30 Aralik. Erijim adresi: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anglicism google scholar
  • Peterson, D. J. (2015). The Art of Language Invention. New York: Penguin Books. google scholar
  • Plena Ilustrita Vortaro (PIV). (2020). PlenaIlustrita Vortaro. Erijim tarihi: 2024, 8 §ubat. Erijim adresi: https:// vortaro.net/ google scholar
  • Reta-Vortaro (RV). (t.y.). Reta-Vortaro. Erijim tarihi: 2024, 8 §ubat. Erijim adresi: https://reta-vortaro.de/ revo/dlg/index-2k.html google scholar
  • Rhiemeier, J. (2012). The art of conlang classification. Erijim tarihi: 2024, 31 Ocak. Erijim tarihi: http://www.joerg-rhiemeier.de/Conlang/classification.html google scholar
  • Salvadori, J. ve Huyghe, R. (2022). Affix polyfunctionality in French deverbal nominalizations. Morphology, 33, 1-39. google scholar
  • Sari, i. (2020). Turkqede Kuqultme. Ankara: Nobel Akademik Yayincilik. google scholar
  • Schulte, M. (2015). The Semantics of Derivational Morphology: A Synchronic and Diachronic Investigation of the Suffixes -age and -ery in English. Tubingen: Narr. google scholar
  • Tekstaro de Esperanto (t.y.). Tekstaro de Esperanto. Erijim tarihi: 2024, 8 §ubat. Erijim adresi: https://tekstaro. com/ google scholar
  • Vardar, B. (2002). Aqiklamali Dilbilim Terimleri Sozlugu. istanbul: Multilingual. google scholar
  • Wandel, A. (2015). How many people speak Esperanto? Or: Esperanto on the web. Interdiciplinary Description of Complex systems, 13(2), 318-321. google scholar
  • Waringhien, G. (1959). Lazar Ludvik Zamenhof (E. Ockey, Qev.). NordamerikaEsperanto-Revuo. Honore al D-ro Zamenhof (Novembro-Decembro, 1959), 7(6), 1-7. google scholar
  • Wennergren, B. (2005). Plena Manlibro de Esperanta Gramatiko. Erijim tarihi: 2023, 17 Aralik. Erijim adresi: https://bertilow.com/pmeg/index.html google scholar
  • Zamenhof, L. L. (1887). MeoH-dyiuipoOiihiii /hhii:. Varjova: Kel’ter. google scholar
  • Zamenhof, L. L. (1905). Fundamento. Paris: Hachette et Cie. google scholar
  • Zulfikar, H. (1991/2011). TerimSorunlari ve Terim Yapma Yollari (2. Baski). Ankara: Turk Dil Kurumu Yayinlari. google scholar
  • AeM1 Bircok Yazar. (1997-2003). Artikoloj el Monato 1997-2003. Anvers: Flandra Esperanto-Ligo. google scholar
  • AeM2 Bircok Yazar. (2012-2018). Artikoloj el Monato 2012-2018. Anvers: Flandra Esperanto-Ligo. google scholar
  • aT Engholm, S. (2001). Al Torento. Tyreso: Inko. google scholar
  • CL Vallienne, H. (2003). Cu Li?. Tyreso: Inko. google scholar
  • CLVT Valano, J. (1980). Cu Li Venis Trakosme?. Anvers: TK/Stafeto. google scholar
  • CNKV Valano, J. (1982). Cu Ni Kunvenis Vane?. Anvers: TK/Stafeto. google scholar
  • CRV Valano, J. (1986). Cu Rakonti Novele?. Anvers: TK/Stafeto. google scholar
  • CVKC Valano, J. (1996). Cu Vi Kuiras Cine?. Viyana: Internacia Esperanto-Muzeo. google scholar
  • DLdlLI Zamenhof, L. L. (1888). DuaLibro de l’Lingvo Internacia. Varjova: Presejo de H. Kelter. google scholar
  • EdlFdE Zamenhof, L. L. (1968). Ekzercaro de la Fundamento de Esperanto. Marmande: Esperantaj Francaj Eldonoj. google scholar
  • EF Grimm Kardejler. (2002). ElektitajFabeloj (K. Bein, Qev.). Tyreso: Inko. google scholar
  • FdA1 Andersen, H. C. (1926). Fabeloj de Andersen 1 (L. L. Zamenhof, Qev.). Paris: Esperantista Centra Librejo. google scholar
  • FdA2 Andersen, H. C. (1926). Fabeloj de Andersen 2 (L. L. Zamenhof, Qev.). Paris: Esperantista Centra Librejo. google scholar
  • FdA3 Andersen, H. C. (1932). Fabeloj de Andersen 3 (L. L. Zamenhof, Qev.). Paris: Centra Librejo. google scholar
  • FdA4 Andersen, H. C. (1963). Fabeloj de Andersen 4 (L. L. Zamenhof, Qev.). Bruksel: Heroldo de Esperanto. google scholar
  • FK1 Biryok Kiji. (1905). Fundamenta Krestomatio. Paris: Hachette et Cie. google scholar
  • FK2 Zamenhof, L. L. (1905). Fundamenta Krestomatio. Paris: Hachette et Cie. google scholar
  • FSMI Matthias, U. (1990). Fajron Sentas Mi Interne. Viyana: Pro Esperanto. google scholar
  • H Shakespeare, W. (1894). Hamleto (L. L. Zamenhof, Qev.). Nurnberg: Presejo de W. Tummel. google scholar
  • IdO Bulthuis, H. J. (1923). Idoj de Orfeo. Lahey: Den Haag. google scholar
  • IeT Engholm, S. (2001). Infanoj en Torento. Tyreso: Inko. google scholar
  • K Biryok Yazar. (2011-2019). Kontakto. Rotterdam: Universala Esperanto-Asocio. google scholar
  • KdP Vallienne, H. (2002). Kastelo de Prelongo. Tyreso: Inko. google scholar
  • KkBeB Beaucaire, L. (1974). Kruko kaj Baniko el Bervalo. Kopenhag: TK/Stafeto. google scholar
  • KMS Rossetti, C. (1949). Kredu Min, Sinjorino!. Scheveningen: Heroldo de Esperanto. google scholar
  • lBdlV Dickens, C. (2001). La Batalo de l’ Vivo. (L. L. Zamenhof, Qev.). Tyreso: Inko. google scholar
  • lF Prus, B. (1927). LaFaraono (K. Bein, Qev.). Paris: Esperantista Centra Librejo. google scholar
  • lGA Szilagyi, F. (1945). La Granda Aventuro. Stockholm: Eldona Societo Esperanto. google scholar
  • lMDeE1 Biryok Yazar. (2002-2004). Le Monde Diplomatique en Esperanto 2002-2004. Embres-et-Castelmaure: Unesko-Grupo Narbonia. google scholar
  • lMDeE2 Biryok Yazar. (2005-2007). Le Monde Diplomatique en Esperanto 2005-2007. Embres-et-Castelmaure: Unesko-Grupo Narbonia. google scholar
  • lMDeE4 Biryok Yazar. (2011-2013). Le Monde Diplomatique en Esperanto 2011-2013. Embres-et-Castelmaure: Unesko-Grupo Narbonia. google scholar
  • lMDeE5 Biryok Yazar. (2014-2016). Le Monde Diplomatique en Esperanto 2014-2016. Embres-et-Castelmaure: Unesko-Grupo Narbonia. google scholar
  • lMDeE6 Biryok Yazar. (2017-2019). Le Monde Diplomatique en Esperanto 2017-2019. Embres-et-Castelmaure: Unesko-Grupo Narbonia. google scholar
  • IMdJA Lowenstein, A. (2021). La Memorajoj de Julia Agripina. Anvers: Flandra Esperanto-Ligo. google scholar
  • lOdE Biryok Yazar. (2001-2004). La Ondo de Esperanto. Kaliningrad: Sezonoj. google scholar
  • IRa Schiller, F. (1928). LaRabistoj (L. L. Zamenhof, Qev.). Paris: Centra Librejo. google scholar
  • IRe Platon. (2000). LaRespubliko (D. Broadribb, Qev.). Matraville: Centra Librejo. google scholar
  • lSU Lowenstein, A. (2000). LaStona Urbo. Anvers: Flandra Esperanto-Ligo. google scholar
  • M Varankin, V. (1992). Metropoliteno. Moskova: Eldonejo “Progresso”. google scholar
  • MA Luyken, H. A. (1913). Mirinda Amo. Londra: British Esperanto Association. google scholar
  • MT (1916). LaMalnova Testamento (L. L. Zamenhof, Qev.). Londra: Brita kaj Alilanda Biblia Societo. google scholar
  • OsIP Stimec, S. (1984). Ombro surInternaPejzago. Pisa: Edistudio. google scholar
  • OVkRT Zamenhof, L. L. (1929). Originala Verkaro. Leipzig: Ferdinand Hirt & Sohn. google scholar
  • PkF Turgenev, I. S. (1909). Patroj kajFiloj (K. Bein, Qev.). Moskova: Librejo “Esperanto”. google scholar
  • QV Sienkiewicz, H. (1957). Quo Vadis (L. Zamenhof, Qev.). Varjova: Eldonejo “Polonia”. google scholar
  • RE Biryok Yazar. (2002-2007). Revuo Esperanto 2002-2007. Rotterdam: Universala Esperanto-Asocio. google scholar
  • RK Defo, D. (1908). Robinsono Kruso (P. A. Krafft, Qev.). Philadelphia: Henry Altemus Company. google scholar
  • VdZ Privat, E. (2001). Vivo de Zamenhof. Tyreso: Inko. google scholar
  • VV Engholm, S. (2001). Vivo Vokas. Tyreso: Inko. google scholar

Citations

Copy and paste a formatted citation or use one of the options to export in your chosen format


EXPORT



APA

Biçer, Y. (2024). Word Formation in Esperanto: Derivation. The Journal of Linguistics, 0(41), 53-86. https://doi.org/10.26650/jol.2023.1441684


AMA

Biçer Y. Word Formation in Esperanto: Derivation. The Journal of Linguistics. 2024;0(41):53-86. https://doi.org/10.26650/jol.2023.1441684


ABNT

Biçer, Y. Word Formation in Esperanto: Derivation. The Journal of Linguistics, [Publisher Location], v. 0, n. 41, p. 53-86, 2024.


Chicago: Author-Date Style

Biçer, Yunus,. 2024. “Word Formation in Esperanto: Derivation.” The Journal of Linguistics 0, no. 41: 53-86. https://doi.org/10.26650/jol.2023.1441684


Chicago: Humanities Style

Biçer, Yunus,. “Word Formation in Esperanto: Derivation.” The Journal of Linguistics 0, no. 41 (Dec. 2024): 53-86. https://doi.org/10.26650/jol.2023.1441684


Harvard: Australian Style

Biçer, Y 2024, 'Word Formation in Esperanto: Derivation', The Journal of Linguistics, vol. 0, no. 41, pp. 53-86, viewed 27 Dec. 2024, https://doi.org/10.26650/jol.2023.1441684


Harvard: Author-Date Style

Biçer, Y. (2024) ‘Word Formation in Esperanto: Derivation’, The Journal of Linguistics, 0(41), pp. 53-86. https://doi.org/10.26650/jol.2023.1441684 (27 Dec. 2024).


MLA

Biçer, Yunus,. “Word Formation in Esperanto: Derivation.” The Journal of Linguistics, vol. 0, no. 41, 2024, pp. 53-86. [Database Container], https://doi.org/10.26650/jol.2023.1441684


Vancouver

Biçer Y. Word Formation in Esperanto: Derivation. The Journal of Linguistics [Internet]. 27 Dec. 2024 [cited 27 Dec. 2024];0(41):53-86. Available from: https://doi.org/10.26650/jol.2023.1441684 doi: 10.26650/jol.2023.1441684


ISNAD

Biçer, Yunus. “Word Formation in Esperanto: Derivation”. The Journal of Linguistics 0/41 (Dec. 2024): 53-86. https://doi.org/10.26650/jol.2023.1441684



TIMELINE


Submitted22.02.2024
Accepted29.04.2024
Published Online30.05.2024

LICENCE


Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC)

This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge you and be non-commercial, they don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.


SHARE




Istanbul University Press aims to contribute to the dissemination of ever growing scientific knowledge through publication of high quality scientific journals and books in accordance with the international publishing standards and ethics. Istanbul University Press follows an open access, non-commercial, scholarly publishing.