Lexical Blend: a subtype of composition?

ABSTRACT

This article analyzes the aspects that approximate and distance the processes of word formation through lexical blend, such as namorido and boadrasta, and through composition, abelha-rainha and lança-chamas, from the viewpoint of a morphological continuum, in accordance with (Andrade, 2013), given that a classification based on the prototypical representatives of each operation does not seem the most adequate to the lexical reality. We have characterized such processes basing ourselves primarily on (Rio-Torto e Ribeiro, 2011) for the composition, and on (Andrade, 2008) and (Basilio, 2003; 2005; 2010) for the lexical blend. Due to its phonological, morphosyntactic and semantic-discursive characteristics, the lexical blend should occupy a prominent position between the processes of composition and derivation.

Key-words: Composition; Lexical Blend; Continuum composition-derivation