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The Acquisition of Derivational Morphology: A cross-linguistic perspective
Edited by Veronika Mattes, Sabine Sommer-Lolei, Katharina Korecky-Kröll and Wolfgang U. Dressler
[Language Acquisition and Language Disorders 66] 2021
► pp. 237–262

Chapter 10
Derivation in Finnish child speech and child-directed speech

| University of Tampere
This chapter examines the early phases of the acquisition of Finnish derivational morphology: what kind of derivational types are used in early child speech and child-directed speech? Which types emerge first and why these types? The analysis is based on recorded and transcribed material of two Finnish-speaking children and their caregivers. In addition, some diary data are used to illustrate the emergence of innovative derived words and the productivity of different derivational types. The study shows the importance of productivity and frequency to the emergence of Finnish derivational types can best be observed in verbs and adjectives: the derivational types which are most frequently used and productive in Finnish emerge early and are frequently used in child speech.
Keywords: morphology, child language, derivation, Finnish, neologism
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Data and method
  • 3.The acquisition of derivational categories in Finnish
    • 3.1Derivational categories of nouns
      • 3.1.1Agent nouns
      • 3.1.2Instrument nouns
      • 3.1.3Derived nouns expressing the result or the action/process
      • 3.1.4Nouns derived with -e from verbs and adjectives
      • 3.1.5Deverbal nouns formed with -s/-kse-
      • 3.1.6-lA attached typically to noun stems to express location
      • 3.1.7Deverbal -minen/-mis(e)-
    • 3.2Derivational categories of verbs
      • 3.2.1Verbs derived with the derivative morpheme -TTA
      • 3.2.2Reflexive-passive verbs derived with -U, -UTU etc
      • 3.2.3Verbs derived with the derivative morpheme -ELE
      • 3.2.4Momentaneous verbs formed with -AhtA and -Aise
      • 3.2.5Conversion
    • 3.3Derivational categories of adjectives
      • 3.3.1-inen/-is(e)-
      • 3.3.2-vA
      • 3.3.3-kAs and -isA
  • 4.Derivational morphology acquired at later stages
  • 5.Word-class changing vs. maintaining derivations
  • 6.Conclusion
    • 6.1Research question 1: Which derivational patterns emerge and are acquired first?
    • 6.2Research question 2: What does the early emergence depend on?
    • 6.3Research question 3: What is the relation between derivation, compounding and inflection in terms of emergence and productivity?
    • 6.4Summing up
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 10 November 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lald.66.10laa
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2024. Limited input and the acquisition of Finnish: The evolution of a child speaker in a multilingual environment. International Journal of Bilingualism DOI logo

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