Deutsche und spanische Adjektive mit somatischen Elementen.

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Authors: Valentina Vivaldi
Cited by: 0

Abstract

Abstract Word formation enhances lexical diversity, and this phenomenon extends to adjectives as well. This study focuses on a group of German and Spanish adjectives containing body parts (referred to as “somatisms”), a topic that remains relatively understudied in the literature. It encompasses derivatives (e. g., “bärtig” or “cejudo, da”) and compounds (e. g., “herzlieb” or “manirroto, ta”). Moreover, German showcases distinctive word formations (called “Zusammenbildungen”) lacking direct equivalents in Spanish (e. g., “langhaarig” or “dickköpfig”). A noteworthy characteristic of these adjectives is their capacity to be interpreted literally or to undergo metaphorical transformations, thereby deviating from the original meaning of their parts. The complexities of these adjectives, particularly their idiomatic nuances, present challenges for learners of both German and Spanish. This paper aims to analyze the structural patterns and pragmatic implications of somatic-based adjectives in both German and Spanish, examining similarities, differences, and potential interlingual correspondences in their pragmatic usage.This research underscores the necessity for further exploration in language education and translation, emphasizing the intricacies of word formation processes that may not always straightforwardly derive from the semantic level of their constituent parts.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Spanish Linguistics and Language Studies Syntax Semantics Linguistic Variation Linguistics Language Diversity and Identity

Publication details

Journal / source
Lebende Sprachen
Publication date
15 January 2026
Language
EN