Studies in feminine derivation in Vedic

The first objective of the first chapter is to investigate the synchronic distribution of and interaction between FEM. Motion and FEM. Static derivatives in Vedic and the Inner IE dialects. The second is to motivate the increased production the Motion derivational type shows, its encroachment upon the Static type, and the crystallization of a subset of transitional zero-derivatives exhibiting original and analogical morphological features. The third is to propose a zero-derived synchronic stage for FEM. agent nouns and FEM. participles on the basis that zero-derivation appears to have been the default, Pre-Motion derivational mechanism accessible to Vedic speakers. The second chapter classifies all Motion -stem derivatives as dev or vk- and underscores five semantic categories they collectively constitute. Furthermore, semantic categories and forms of lexical class change characteristic of each derivational Motion -stem sub-type are identified. The linguistic bases, however, motivating Vedic speakers to select *-ih2-/*-yh2- (and possibly *-ihx-) but not *-eh2- to derive from MASC. thematic bases the Motion -stems, remains unknown.