Preverbs in Greek: the case of ksana, kse-, para-*

Abstract

In this paper, Ι deal with the role of three Greek preverbs, ksana, kse- and para- in verb formation. Βy examining their characteristics on semantic, structural and phonological grounds, Ι propose a morphological approach that allows for a unified treatment of the three preverb s and accounts for both their differences and similarities. Ι show that a distinction into internal and external preverbs, or a division in prefixes and non-prefixes, are not sufficient to take into consideration their peculiar behavior. Ι argue that the combination of the preverbs with the root verbs is an instance of a word formation process that is handled within a morphological module of grammar and refers to either derivational prefixation or compounding. Following Di Sciullo 1997, Ι consider that the combination of the preverbs with the verbal bases occurs at different adjunction sites in grammar. However, Ι propose that these adjunction sites can be expressed in terms of morphological categories, ί.e., as adjunction to stems or adjunction tο words. Ι show that a difference in adjunction sites within morphology can explain the asymmetrical character of certain preverbs that behave like prefixes but share more similarities with word-like preverbs, than with prefix-type ones.