Exocentric Compounds in Laki Language

compounding is one of the major processes of word formation in the world language. Formal and semantic examination of compound words has always been one of the main concerns of reaserchers of morphology. The present article aims to find and analyze exocentric compounds in the Laki language based on Bauer (2017).

The research data include endocentric compounds collected from two sources: first, the daily speech of Laki speakers by the researcher and second, the two-volume book of ‘Laki Dictionary’ (Kiyani Kolivand, 2011). The data, then, are analyzed based on Baur’s (2017) classification.

The findings of the research show that all types of exocentric compounds in Baur’s (2017) classification, including bahuvrihi, synthetic, coordinative, exocentricity by language change or social change, and metaphorical are found in Laki language, but the structural diversity of bahuvrihi and synthetic exocentric compounds is more than the other three types.

One of the important features of excentric compounds in Laki language is the high frequency of the names of human and animal body parts in them. In other words, embodiment and bodily organs and activities play a significant role in making exocentric compounds in Laki language.