On the semantics of deanthroponymic neologisms with the suffix “-ismus” in German

Doklady Bashkirskogo Universiteta. 2023. Volume 8. No. 1. pp. 8-22.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33184/dokbsu-2023.1.2

Download text.pdf

The article discusses the linguistic features and productivity of the deanthroponymic suffix -ismus when creating nouns based on the names of (famous) German politicians; it analyzes the functioning of suffixal derivatives in the texts of modern media. The scope of the derivatives’ meanings is determined by the actions, inclinations, manners characteristic of the bearers of a given name, cf: Merkelismus: “method of wielding power without recognizable political goals and objectives”, “(poorly) prepared to deal with the realities of politics”, “crisis leadership”, “obstructionism”, etc. Parallels and differences between de-appellative and deonimic word formation for expressing the same meanings are revealed; specific functions of derivatives are analyzed. The connotative marking of deanthroponymic derivatives with the suffix “-ismus” is pointed out.