Abstract

BARBOSA, Ana Vieira. Semantic structure of the suffix -ismo. Diacrítica [online]. 2014, vol.28, n.1, pp.73-101. ISSN 0807-8967.

With the analysis of Portuguese names in -ismo, held in the framework of lexical morphology, is possible to identify suffix attested meanings and typology of the bases selected by the suffix. These elements enable the identification of the suffix as a polysemous unit as well as the analysis of its semantic structure, the core of this work. The suffix -ismo is analyzed as a polysemous unit whose different meanings are organized according to prototype theory. This analysis rests on meaning conception of Cognitive Linguistics and Conceptual Semantics. Thus, it is possible to recognize the complex semantic structure of -ismo, organized on two levels. The underlying level carries the seminal values of quality and systematicity; being quality the prototypical meaning. The surface level comprises the attested meanings ‘epistemological principle’, ‘quality’, ‘practice’, ‘attitude’, ‘phenomenon’ and ‘locution’, which according to the order presented, go to the nearest to the more distant from the prototypical meaning.

Keywords : derivation; semantic structure; polysemy; meaning; suffix -ismo.

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