Debonding of Dutch intensifying prefixoids: A multiple source account

Debonding of Dutch intensifying prefixoids: a multiple source account Kristel Van Goethem, Muriel Norde F.R.S.-FNRS & Université catholique de Louvain; Humboldt University, Berlin Objectives In this study, we will investigate how Dutch affixes and affixoids develop autonomous uses through debonding, i.e. "a composite change whereby a bound morpheme in a specific linguistic context becomes a free morpheme" (Norde 2009: 186). Debonding is one of the three subtypes of degrammaticalization distinguished by Norde (2009) and is therefore characterized as a gradual and construction-internal process. More specifically, debonding typically involves severance (i.e. decrease in bondedness), flexibilization (i.e. increase in syntactic freedom), scope expansion and possibly recategorialization and resemanticization. The focus of our study will be on Dutch intensifying prefixoids (e.g. een topjaar 'a top year', een reuzehonger 'a giant appetite', reuzeaardig ‘lit. giant nice; very nice’, keig...