Polyfunctionality

Polyfunctionality is the phenomenon that one affix is used with a number of different meanings or grammatical functions.

Example

In Dutch, the suffix -er is used to form

1. deverbal agent nouns (werker 'worker),
2. deverbal instrument nouns (wekker 'alarm clock'),
3. geographical personal nouns (Amsterdammer 'person living in Amsterdam'),
4. denominal personal nouns (rechter 'judge'), and (e) deadjectival personal nouns (ouder 'parent').

Links

Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics

References

• Moortgat, M. & H. van der Hulst 1984. Geïnterpreteerde morfologie, Glot 4, 179-214, .