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    be-
    quickinfo

    The prefix be- productively derives transitive verbs on the basis of nouns. It adds an ornative meaning, which can be described as to supply something with the object named in the base form. An example is dong manure > bedongje to manure (a piece of land).

    The prefix be- primarily takes verbs as base, but also some adjectives.

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    [+]General properties

    The prefix be- may productively derive transitive verbs on the basis of nouns. It adds an ornative meaning to the base form. The meaning of be-derivations can be described as to supply something with the object named in the base form. Examples are listed below:

    Table 1
    Base form Derivation
    dyk dike bedykje to dike in
    woartel root bewoartelje to take root
    dong manure bedongje to manure
    paad path bepaadzje to lay (a) path(s)
    muorre wall bemuorje to wall in
    modder mud bemodderje to soil with mud
    letter letter beletterje to letter
    meubel piece of furniture bemeubelje to furnish
    kabel cable bekabelje to cable
    fracht freight befrachtsje to load
    bosk forest beboskje to (af)forest
    man man bemanje to man
    The derived verbs are transitive. Semantically, their objects have the role of Location or Goal. For example, the verb bepaadzje, with its base noun paad path, can take an object like in tún a garden. Therefore, 'in tún bepaadzje means something like make a path/paths in a garden. In the same way, in keamer bemeubelje a room PREF-furniture-INF means to put furniture in a room.

    extra
    An alternative analysis

    It is assumed here that the derivations above have a noun as base. For Frisian, the alternative idea has been put forward by Veenstra (1988) and Hoekstra (1998:155) that they actually have a verbal base. This would be achieved by conversion of the base noun to a verb, even in those cases in which the converted verb is not in use, hence where it should be interpreted as a possible word. An advantage of this view would be that be- only takes verbal bases. Moreover, Williams' (1981)Right Head Hand Rule could be upheld.

    [+]Phonological properties

    The prefix is pronounced as [bə]. As this contains a schwa, the stress is not on the prefix, e.g. beDYKje to dike in. This effect is a consequence of the schwa restriction.

    extra
    Literature

    The most extensive treatment of Frisian be-verbs is Veenstra (1988:136-174). See also Tamminga (1963:203-204) and Hoekstra (1998:155-156). More details in Versloot (2006).

    References
    • Hoekstra, Jarich1998Fryske wurdfoarmingLjouwertFryske Akademy
    • Hoekstra, Jarich1998Fryske wurdfoarmingLjouwertFryske Akademy
    • Tamminga, Douwe Annes1963Op 'e taelhelling. Losse trochsneden fan Frysk taellibben. IBoalsertA.J. Osinga
    • Veenstra, Durk H1988Oer de grammatika fan be-ferbaDyk, S. & Haan, G.J. de (eds.)Wurdfoarried en wurdgrammatika, LjouwertLjouwertFryske Akademy136-174
    • Veenstra, Durk H1988Oer de grammatika fan be-ferbaDyk, S. & Haan, G.J. de (eds.)Wurdfoarried en wurdgrammatika, LjouwertLjouwertFryske Akademy136-174
    • Versloot, Arjen P2006In klankrike taalFriesch Dagblad24-061
    • Williams, Edwin1981On the notions `lexically related' and `head of a word'Linguistic Inquiry12254-274
    About this article
    Author(s): Siebren Dyk, Gerbrich de Jong
    Category: Frisian Morphology
    Keywords: prefixnoun
    Version: 1.0, July 2017
    Version history:
    version editor(s) date remarks
    1.0 Siebren Dyk July 2017
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