Dinamiche di variazione e mutamento tra composizione e derivazione in greco antico

In our talk, we investigate variation paths within the processes of composition and derivation in Ancient Greek. In particular, we focus on the peculiar features, which suffix variation – here intended as the addition of different suffixes to the same base with little or no change of meaning – shows both in derivatives and in compounds. Taking as an example neuter nouns ending in -μα, -ματος, the simultaneous presence of lexical series such as αἷμα “blood” ~ ἀναίμων “bloodless” ~ ἄναιμος “id.” ~ ἀναίματος “id.” e πρᾶγμα “action” ~ κακοπράγμων “evil-doing” ~ κακοπραγής “id.” seems to point at a different distribution of suffixes, which is sensitive to the more or less verbal nature of the compound second constituent. Within the field of derivation, suffix variation sometimes is rather exuberant (cp. the group of terms κορυδός, κορυδών, κορυδαλλή, κορυδαλλίς, κορυδαλλός, κορύδαλος, all designating the crested lark) and is often linked to diaphasic variation, with reference both to language registers (cp. Aeschylean τιμάωρ “avenger” in place of τιμάορος/τιμωρός) and to special languages (e.g. nouns denoting insects ending in -ήνη or -εδών, as τενθρήνη ~ τενθρηδών “a kind of wasp”). Taking into account derivation and composition and basing on the evidence provided by the texts, we try to outline the similarities and differences that suffix variation shows in each process; to do this, we also focus on the grammaticalisation processes that affect compounds’ second members.