Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.22210/jezik.2026.73.08
Morphological overabundance in the Croatian language on the example of possessive adjectives derived from disyllabic and polysyllabic nouns ending in -ar
Marijana Bašić
Abstract
Overabundance is a characteristic of morphologically rich languages, implying the
occurrence of two or more forms of a single word with the same grammatical meaning.
In the Croatian language, it is manifested, for example, in the declension of nouns derived
with the suffix -ar (the endings -om and -em in the instrumental singular) and in the derivation
of possessive adjectives from these nouns (the suffixes -ov and -ev). The study of
overabundance on the example of disyllabic nouns derived with the suffix -ar (Bašić, in
press) led to the conclusion that instrumental forms in -om and -em, or forms of possessive
adjectives in -ov and -ev, do not have the same status; i.e., that true doublets are more
common in the production of possessive adjectives than in the production of the singular
instrumental of nouns in -ar with the meaning of doer of the action. In addition, doublets
were more common in the group of possessive adjectives with short descending accent than
in the group of possessive adjectives with short ascending accent. This research, therefore,
seeks to provide insight into the status of rival forms of possessive adjectives derived from
disyllabic and polysyllabic nouns ending in -ar with a short accent. The research results
will aid in exploring the phenomenon of overabundance in formative morphology. Additionally,
they may benefit (non)native speakers of the Croatian language in selecting the
more commonly used variant.
Keywords
nouns; Croatian language; possessive adjectives; overabundance; suffix -ar
Hrčak ID:
353049
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2026.
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