Criteria of Compounds

2.4.2 The criteria of compounds p.
65-67 (Nikolenko)
SLIDE 1. Today I would like to tell you about the criteria of compounds or in
other words to give you some pieces of advice about how to distinguish between a
compound and a word-combination. This question has a direct bearing on the
specific feature of the structure of most English compounds – with the exception of
the rare morphological type, they originate directly from word-combinations and
are often homonymous to them.
SLIDE 2. For example, a tall boy (a boy who is tall) and a tallboy (a piece of
furniture, a chest of drawers supported by a low stand). Of course, it is not easy to
distinguish whether we are talking about a compound or just a word phrase.
SLIDE 3. In this case 6 criteria of distinguishing between a word and a word-
group seem to be sufficiently convincing. These are graphic criterion, semantic
criterion, phonetic criterion, morphological criterion, syntactic criterion and
finally transformational criterion.
SLIDE 4. To start with, the graphic criterion is really helpful when we deal
with compounds and word combinations, yet in many cases it cannot wholly be
relied on as there is a consistency in English spelling in this respect. With different
dictionaries and different authors and sometimes even with the same author the
spelling varies, so that the same unit may exist in a solid spelling: headmaster,
loudspeaker, or with a hyphen: head-master, loud-speaker, and with a break
between the components: head master, loud speaker. Moreover, compounds that
appear to be constructed on the same pattern and have similar semantic relations
between the constituents may be spelt differently – textbook, phrase-book,
reference book. These three types of spelling need not indicate different degrees of
semantic fusion. Sometimes hyphen may serve aestheStic purposes, helping to
avoid words that will look too long, or purposes of convenience, making syntactic
components clearer to the eye.
SLIDE 5. According to the semantic criterion a compound is defined as a

combination expressing a single idea which is not identical in meaning to the sum
of meanings of its components in a free phrase. From this point of view dirty work
within figurative meaning ~dishonorable proceedings~ is a compound, while clean
work and dirty work are just phrases. The insufficiency of this criterion will be
better understood if one realizes how difficult it is to decide whether the
combination expresses a single integrated idea or not.
SLIDE 6. The phonetic criterion for compounds may be treated as that of a

single stress. There is a marked tendency in English to give compounds a heavy
stress on the first element. Many scholars consider this unity of stress to be of
primary importance. It is true that all compounds, with very few exceptions, are
stressed on this pattern. for example -
`blackbird - `black `bird
`blackboard - `black `board
`bluebottle - `blue `bottle
In all these cases the determinant has a heavy stress, the determinantum has a
middle stress. The only exception as far as compound nouns are concerned is
found in compounds whose first element are -all- and -self-
Àll-`Fools-`day, `self-con`troll.
The rule does not hold with adjectives. Compound adjectives are double stressed_
`gray-`green, èasy-`going, `new-`born.
Only compound adjective expressing emphasizing comparison are heavily stressed
on the first element_ `snow-white, `dog-cheap.
SLIDE 7. Besides, the stress may be phonological and help to differentiate the
meanings_
òverwork – extrawork
òver`work – hard work injuring one`s health
`man`kind – the human race
`mankind – men (contrasted with women)
`bookcase – a piece of furniture with shelves for books
`book`case – a paper cover for books
SLIDE 8. Morphological and syntactic criteria can also be applied to compound
words in order to distinguish them from word-groups. In the word-combination a
tall boy each of the constituents is independently open to grammatical changes
peculiar to its own category as a part of speech – and we can say the tallest boy
ever. Between the constituent parts of the word-group other words can be inserted
– a tall handsome boy. On the contrary, the compound tallboy and any other
compound are not subject to such changes. The first component is grammatically
invariable, the plural form-ending affects the whole unit – tallboys. No word can
be inserted between the elements, even with the compounds that have a traditional
separate graphic form.
SLIDE 9. Some transformational procedures that have been offered may also
prove helpful. For example, a phrase like a stone wall can be changed into a wall
of stone, whereas a toothpick cannot be replaced by a pick for teeth and that means
it is a compound. It is true that this impossibility of transformation proves the
structural integrity of the word as compared with the phrase, yet the procedure
works only for idiomatic compounds, whereas those that are distinctly motivated
permit the transformation readily enough
a toothpick – a peek for teeth tooth-powder – powder for teeth a tooth brush – a
brush for teeth
SLIDE 10. To sum up, no one type of criteria is normally sufficient for
establishing whether the unit is a phrase or a compound. In the majority of cases
we have to depend on the combination of two or more criteria (phonological,
phonetic, semantic, morphological, syntactic or graphical).
SLIDE 11. Thank you for attention!

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2.4.2 The criteria of compounds p.

SLIDE 5. According to the semantic criterion a compound is defined as a

SLIDE 6. The phonetic criterion for compounds may be treated as that of a

SLIDE 11. Thank you for attention!

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