Middle Low German affixes in Russian

Summary

Affix function number of borrowed affixes

Description

Information and examples are from Matushansky (2023:3). The affix -ša was introduced into Russian via loanwords that include the Middle Low German adjectival affix -sche. It often attaches to bases ending with -or, -er, and -arʲ (e.g. aptekarša ‘female pharmacist’), therefore it mostly occurs in loanwords denoting occupation (Fufaeva 2021). However, hybrid formations are attested in Fufaeva (2021). Note also that the final vowel of -sche was reinterpreted as the nominative singular case marker -a in Russian and alternates depending on the case. The form of the feminine morpheme itself is analyzed as -š in Russian.

1 nominal derivation suffix

  • -ša ‘female equivalent’, e.g. velikan-ša (giant-feminine.nominative.singular) ‘giantess’, opek-un-ša (look.after-agent-feminine.nominative.singular) ‘trustee (woman)’.