Composites denoting nomina agentis in the Russian Language: distinguishing competing models

Wiener Slawistischer Almanach. 2013. No. 85. P. 199–212.

Tagabileva M.

One of the largest blind spots in the studies of Russian word formation is the problem of interaction of fully or partially synonymic models, their rivalry and distribution both in the vocabulary and in spontaneous speech. I aimed this particular study at describing two competing models used to form composite nomina agents: the zero suffix model and the model with the suffix -ets. In my research, I investigated possible constraints imposed on the models in question as well as morpho(no)logical and syntactic features of their derivatives. Trying to determine factors that influence the choice of one of the competing models, I also took into account their productivity and peculiarities of their realization in texts of different genres, styles and time periods. The study reveals that despite the clear tendency of extrusion of one of the models under investigation by the other, there are several factors that do not allow this process to be completed, among them are the following:

a) the morphonological constraints on the zero suffix model, which do not let all the derivatives change their word formation model;

b) stylistic differentiation of the derivatives, which mostly results from the history of development of the models in question.

Keywords: историческая морфология, морфология, morphology, словообразование, word formation, Slavic languages, compounds, композиты