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    -ijn
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    -ijn ( /ɛɪn/) is a stress-bearing unproductive cohering suffix found in nouns of common gender, taking the definite singular article de, with a plural form in -en. Three groups of -ijn formations can be distinguished: person's names (augustijn Augustinian), inhabitant names (argentijn argentinian) and a few object names (woestijn desert).

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    The suffx -ijn ( /ɛɪn/) is found in nouns of common gender with a plural form in -en (augustijnen Augustinians, argentijn argentinians, woestijnen deserts). (De Haas and Trommelen 1993: 197-8) distinguish three groups of -ijn formations:

    • person's names based on proper names, with deletion of final syllable(s) -us or -inus, denoting follower of base, e.g. augustijn Augustinian (< Augustinus), benedictijn Benedictine (< Benedictus).
      extra

      In the case of religious orders, the feminine counterpart is in -es(se), e.g Augustinesse. (De Haas and Trommelen 1993: 197) also point at forms like rabbijn rabbi, cherubijn cherub, serafijn seraph and chirurgijn surgeon, that may contain the suffix as well; the same might hold for stoïcijn stoic, libertijn libertarian and begijn beguine. The -ijn ending ultimately derives from French (Etymologiebank); proper names that end in /-ijn/ often correspond to a French form in /-in/ or a Latin form in /inus/ or /ina/, e.g. Calvijn Calvin (cf. French Calvin), Martijn Martin (cf. Latin Martinus) and Marijn Marin (cf. Latin Marina). azijn vinegar derives from Latin acetulum via Old French aisil (Etymologiebank), whereas dolfijn dolphin derives from Latin delphinus via Late Latin dalfinus (Etymologiebank).

    • inhabitant names (argentijn argentinian < Argentinië Argentina), systematically on the basis of geographical names in -inië (Sardijn Sardinian < Sardinië Sardinia), but also Algerijn Algerian (< Algerije Algeria), Florentijn Florentinian (Florence Florence), etc.
    • a few object names (woestijn desert, termijn term, tamboerijn tamboerine). A general semantics is hard to find here.
      extra

      (De Haas and Trommelen 1993: 198) also mention neuter nouns such as gordijn curtain, festijn festivity and medicijn medicine, drug that also have a plural in -en and that are to be considered formally complex on the basis of their phonological form. It is, however, hard to come up with a common semantics that can be attributred to the alleged suffix.

    All -ijn formations have a diminutive form in -tje. The person denoting derivations can be input to adjective formation by means of -s (Augustijns. Argentijns, libertijns, byzantijns). The -ijn suffix carries the main stress of the derivation it is found in: augustijnen /au.gus.tij.nen/ Augustinians. The transcription shows that the suffix is cohering: syllabification does not respect the morphological structure.

    References
    • Haas, Wim de & Trommelen, Mieke1993Morfologisch handboek van het Nederlands. Een overzicht van de woordvormingSDU Uitgeverij
    • Haas, Wim de & Trommelen, Mieke1993Morfologisch handboek van het Nederlands. Een overzicht van de woordvormingSDU Uitgeverij
    • Haas, Wim de & Trommelen, Mieke1993Morfologisch handboek van het Nederlands. Een overzicht van de woordvormingSDU Uitgeverij
    About this article
    Author(s): Ton van der Wouden
    Category: Dutch Morphology
    Keywords: nounsuffixationperson name
    Version: 1.0, December 2015
    Version history:
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    1.0 Ton van der Wouden December 2015
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