The Interaction between Borrowing and Word Formation: Evidence from Modern Greek Prefixes

Abstract

This chapter discusses two cases of Modern Greek prefixes whose extensive use in loan translations from foreign languages reveals a complex interplay between borrowing and word formation. The prefixes υπερ‎- and αντι‎- derive from the Ancient Greek prepositions υπέρ‎ (‘over, beyond’) and αντί‎ (‘in front of, instead of’), respectively, but, in the course of their grammaticalization into prefixes, they have also developed some additional non-locational meanings, e.g. ‘excess’ (υπερ‎-εργασία‎ [ipererγ‎asía] ‘overwork’), ‘against, opposing’ (αντι‎-αμερικανικός‎ [andiamerikanikós] ‘anti-american’). Given the extensive use of Greek prefixes in loan translations, two questions are addressed: How does calquing influence word formation processes in contemporary Greek? And does borrowing affect the meaning of Modern Greek prefixes? It is shown that borrowing constitutes a trigger for the expansion of the domain of use and the development of polysemy in Modern Greek prefixation. Furthermore, it is investigated which factors can account for the prevalence of all these loan translations, as opposed to direct borrowings.