Some Derivational Conditions on the Gennan -ung-nominals

Abstract

The derivation of - ung- nominals is one of the most productive word formations with a suffix. Morphosyntactically - ung- nominals are derived from their base verbs almost without any constraints. Among the registered- ung- nominals in E. Mater ( 1967) and Duden. Universalworterbuch (1994) one may find that - ung- nominals are derived from both intransitive and transitive verbs (such as Erstarrung, Verarmung, Entwoolkung, etc. and Erarbeitung, Veranderung, Enteisung, etc.), both inseparable and separable prefix verbs (such as Erbauung, Enrhartung, Zerfleischung, etc. and Abmachung, Aufbliihung, Anordnung, ete.), and also from the simplex verbs such as Bindung, Dickung, Fesselung, Leerung, etc. However, it is found that there are various restrictions in deriving -ung - nominals semantically, Some verbs with inchoative Aktionsart offer the -ung- nominals (such as Erblindung. Verdumnmung, Verkrustung. ete.) whereas some other verbs with inchoative Aktionsart do not offer grammatical - ung- nominals (such as 'Erbebung, 'Erschallung, 'Ersrrahlung, ete.) The same phenomena can be found in the verbs with resultative and punctual Aktionsart. It is assumed in this paper that all of these phenomena can be explained with some very simple principles which are based on the semantic properties of the verbs and their theme arguments. Thus I have established three derivational conditions with which the grammatical it,' of - ung- nominals can be decided.