/ instituut voor de Nederlandse taal / Taalportaal
bibliography glossary about
  • Dutch
  • Frisian
  • Saterfrisian
  • Afrikaans
Show all
    Stress in adjectival compounds
    quickinfo

    In adjectival compounds, the rightmost constituent is an adjective (A), while the initial constituent can either be

    1. a noun (N),
    2. another adjective (A),
    3. a verb (V), or
    4. a preposition (P).
    Adjectival compounds display two stress patterns.

    readmore
    [+]General information

    Unlike most nominal compounds, the majority of adjectival compounds are of the type weak-strong; however, NA compounds sometimes also are of the type strong-weak, like most nominal compounds. Such strong-weak compounds usually end in -ziek, -blind, -moe, -doof, -graag, or -rijk (e.g. Langeweg 1988, Backhuys 1989).

    Note, however, that the difference in stress placement is neutralized in attributive position, where the stress in adjectival compounds of the type weak-strong regularly shifts to the first constituent; as a result, the contrast between strong-weak and weak-strong neutralizes in attributive position. Below we give examples for NA compounds, AA compounds, VA compounds, and PA compounds.

    [+]NA compounds

    NA compounds are usually stressed on the right-hand component, at least when they occur in predicative position of a phrase or in isolation.

    1
    A
    doodziek [[dood][ziek]] [ˈdod.ˈzik] seriously ill
    wereldvreemd [[wereld][vreemd]] [ˈʋe.rəld.ˈvremt] unworldly
    woningzoekend [[woning][zoekend]] [ˈʋo.nɪŋ.ˈzu.kənt] seeking accommodation

    However, NA compounds with invariable stress on the left constituent do exist.

    2
    N
    zeeziek [[zee][ziek]] [ˈze.ˌzik] seasick
    sneeuwblind [[sneeuw][blind]] [ˈsnew.ˌblɪnt] snowblind
    kleurenblind [[kleuren][blind]] [ˈklø.rən.ˌblɪnd] colour blind
    levensmoe [[levens][moe]] [ˈle.vəns.ˌmu] world-weary
    waardevol [[waarde][vol]] [ˈʋɑr.də.ˌvɔl] valuable
    praatgraag [[praat][graag]] [ˈprat.ˌxrax] talkative
    kleurrijk [[kleur][rijk]] [ˈklør.ˌrɛik] colourful
    [+]AA compounds

    AA compounds are always stressed on the second constituent in predicative position, and stressed on the left constituent in initial position.

    3
    A
    welbekend [[wel][bekend]] [ˈʋɛl.bə.ˈkɛnt] well known
    hoogzwanger [hoog][zwanger]] [ˈhox.ˈzʋɑ.ŋər] heavily pregnant
    zwartwit [[zwart][wit]] [ˈzʋɑrt.ˈʋɪt] black and white
    lichtblauw [[licht][blauw]] [ˈlɪxt.ˈblɑu] light blue
    [+]VA compounds

    VA compounds have compound stress on the second constituent in predicative position.

    4
    A
    fonkelnieuw [[fonkel][nieuw]] [ˈfɔŋ.kəl.ˈniw] brand new
    druipnat [[druip][nat]] [ˈdrœyp.ˈnɑt] soaking wet
    kakelvers [[kakel][vers]] [ˈka.kəl.ˈvɛrs] farm-fresh
    spuugzat [[spuug][zat]] [ˈspyx.ˈzɑt] sick to death of something
    [+]PA compounds

    Compound stress in PA compounds is on the second constituent in predicative position.

    5
    A
    onderbetaald [[onder][betaald]] [ˈɔn.dər.bə.ˈtalt] underpaid
    bijziend [[bij][ziend]] [ˈbɛi.ˈzint] nearsighted
    overvol [[over][vol]] [ˈo.vər.ˈvɔl] overcrowded
    buitengewoon [[buiten][gewoon]] [ˈbœy.tən.xə.ˈʋon] exceptional

    Note that variation in the stress patterns can be found in the examples in (5). It is possible that the compound stress rule is applied, which results in the main stress on the first syllable.

    References
    • Backhuys, Kees-Jan1989Adjectival compounds in DutchBennis, H. & Kemenade, A. van (eds.)Linguistics in the NetherlandsDordrecht1-10
    • Langeweg, S. J1988The stress system of DutchUniversity of LeidenThesis
    About this article
    Author(s): Björn Köhnlein
    Category: Dutch Phonology
    Keywords: stresscomplex word
    Version: 1.0, December 2015
    Version history:
    version editor(s) date remarks
    1.0 Björn Köhnlein December 2015
    printreport errorcite
    Jump to:
    X