Re: Question about a grammatical term

 --- Christophe Grandsire
>
> So, finally, let's give a final answer to the
> question of Mr. I-am-nothing ;)) :
> What is the grammatical term referring to the
> construction in things
> like "water cooler" and "toilet humour"? Answer:
> compounding :)) .
>
> Christophe.
>
just to complicate matters, compounding can be further
analysed. sanskrt does this pretty systematically, but
i can't remember whether it has a term for this sort
of compound

examples are :

dvandva compounds ( eg janaba:lau, man and child, from
janas, man and ba:lam, child ( i think ) )
bahuvrihi compounds ( itself an example, meaning 'much
riced', cf greek 'polyphloisboio thalasse:s' &c )

one comment i'ld make about the english is on phrases
like 'toilet humour' where the relationship is quite
complex, meaning something like 'humour inspired by
the toilet' or some such

bn

=====
bnathyuw | landan | arR
stamp the sunshine out | angelfish
your tears came like anaesthesia | phèdre

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