Prefixes vs initial combining forms in english: A lexicographic perspective

Abstract

The aims of this paper are twofold: firstly, to offer one method of drawing a systematic dividing line between prefixes and initial combining forms (ICFs), by putting forward an ordered set of shared and distinguishing criteria, based on the formal, functional, semantic and pragmatic properties of both prefixes and ICFs; and secondly, to define the categories of prototypical prefix and prototypical ICF, which would, consequently, help to assign - or re-assign - each bound initial lexical element to one of the two categories in a synchronically more appropriate way. By filling the current descriptive gap in lexicological theory, this paper especially hopes to contribute to lexicographic methodology and practice with concrete pointers for a more consistent labelling of all bound initial lexical elements in dictionaries, both pedagogical and native-speaker ones, where present solutions are to a large extent inconsistent, unexplained and hence confusing for the user. © 2005 Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.