Branches of linguistics. Synchronic vs diachronic approaches to the language study. Lexicology – ‘the science of the word’ Lexicon

The compound inherits most of its semantic and syntactic information from its head, i.e. the most important member of a compound word modified by the other component.

The structural pattern of English compounds

[ X Y] y

X = {root, word, phrase}, Y = {root, word}, y = grammatical properties inherited from Y

According to the type of the linking element:

compounds without a linking element, e.g. toothache, bedroom, sweet-heart;

compounds with a vowel linking element, e.g. handicraft, speedometer;

compounds with a consonant linking element, e.g. statesperson, craftsman;

compounds with a preposition linking stem, e.g. son-in-law, lady-in-waiting;

compounds with a conjunction linking stem, e.g. bread-and-butter.