Abstract:
An account of certain functional aspects of Afrikaans exocentric compounds is presented in this dissertation. This study builds on the preliminary survey presented in the dissertation 'n Korpusanalise van Afrikaanse eksosentriese komposita (Van Niekerk, 2001). Exemplary material is obtained from an extensive corpus, consisting of lexicographical and academic matter, as well as colloquial spoken language.
Language is man's primary means of communication, used to convey knowledge and information. Lexical items are used to name and refer to all kinds of concepts, aspects, objects, persons and other references. Of particular importance to this study, however, is the expressive functionality of language, whereby it is used as an instrument to voice affect, judgement, opinion, perception and other emotional aspects.
Exocentric compounds are singled out as lexemes of particular importance, utilized by Afrikaans speakers/writers to express themselves referentially and emotionally. In this study the researcher has endeavored to describe and explain certain aspects of exocentric compounds in terms of the cognitive process of conceptual blending, as explained in The way we think by Fauconnier and Turner (2003).
Exocentric compounding is highly functional with regard to etnobiological naming of botanic and zoological references, especially as bahuvrihi compounds. More prominent, however, is the use of compounds to voice a wide variety of expressive values and connotations, both positive and negative. Humor is constantly referred to as probably the most important function of exocentric compounds. Other expressive functional aspects of exocentric compounds are discussed, such as insult, scorn and ridicule in nicknames and slurs, the softening effect of euphemism in contrast to the intensifying effect of dysphemism, idiomaticity, irony, et cetera, some of these aspects overlapping significantly. Exocentric compounds are creatively used as highly descriptive expressions in the informal register of colloquial Afrikaans, as well as in different dialects and sociolinguistic varieties.
Based on observations in connection with the diverse use and optimal functionality of exocentric compounds in domains of every possible kind, the conclusion is reached that exocentric compounds is an essential part of the Afrikaans lexicon.
