ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-103-008 · ATLAS 251

Suppletion

The formation of related word forms from etymologically distinct stems.

Explanation

In suppletion, a grammatical paradigm is not formed through the regular inflection of a stem. The language treats distinctly different forms as a single unit.

Example

gut – besser – am besten.

Counterexample

klein – kleiner – am kleinsten is a regular comparative series.

Distinction

Distinguish from allomorphy in the broader sense: Suppletion refers to extreme stem change.

Effect on thought and perception

Shows that grammatical relatedness can be stronger than formal similarity.

Resonance

Different word families are linked into a single paradigm through their function.

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Suppletion“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-103-008. ATLAS 251, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-103-008

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-103-008

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