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    -oan
    quickinfo

    The suffix -oan productively derives adjectives from other adjectives. It has the peculiar restriction that it only attaches to the comparative degree of the adjectival base. If the base already denotes an increase, then the derivation with -oan implies an extra increase. For example, in a sentence like it wurdt letteroan it gets later-SUFF, the suffix -oan means that 'getting later' will even taken more time.

    The suffix -oan can also derive adverbs from other adverbs, denoting a continuation in time.

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    [+]General properties

    The suffix -oan derives adjectives from other adjectives, denoting an intensification or continuation. Examples are given in the table below:

    Table 1
    Base form Derivation
    tsjusterder darker tsjusterderoan still darker
    grutter bigger grutteroan still bigger
    slimmer worde slimmeroan still worse
    neier closer neieroan still closer
    drokker busier drokkeroan still busier

    As is shown in these examples above, the base form of a derivation with -oan is the comparative degree of the adjective. The derivations therefore denote a further intensification or increase, i.e. a further continuation of what is already going on.

    Because of the fact that derivations with -oan denote an increase, they can only occur in sentences with verbs expressing a change, like wurde to become or komme to come.

    1
    It wurdt tsjusterderoan
    it becomes darker-SUFF
    It is getting still darker
    2
    Hja kamen neieroan
    they came closer-SUFF
    They came closer and closer

    Sentences with verbs like wêze to be, which express a state, are therefore impossible:

    3
    *It is tsjusterderoan
    it is darker.SUFF
    It is getting still darker

    The derivation in -oan can only be used predicatively:

    4
    a. *It drukkeroan-e wurk
    it busier-SUFF-INFL job
    The job that is still getting busier
    b. It wurk wurdt drokkeroan
    the job becomes busier-SUFF
    The job is getting still busier
    extra
    oan- vs -oan

    The suffix -oan has a comparable function as the particle oan- in combination with verbs that are derived from adjectives by way of conversion. Instead of it wurdt tsjusterderoan it is getting still darker, one can say it tsjusteret oan it is getting still darker. Other examples are given in the table below:

    Table 1
    it betteret oan it is still getting better oanbetterje still getting better
    it boazet oan it is still getting worse oanboazje still getting worse
    it swieret oan it is still getting heavier oanswierje still getting heavier
    it ripet oan it is still getting riper oanrypje still getting riper

    [+]Phonological properties

    The suffix -oan is pronounced as [o.ən]. In -oan derivations the main stress can fall both on the stem of the adjectival base or on the suffix itself: GRUTteroan still getting larger vs grutterOAN still getting larger.

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    Literature

    This topic is based on Hoekstra (1998:163). More details about the -oan suffix can be found in Hoekstra (1989) and Tamminga (1963:185-187).

    References
    • Hoekstra, Jarich1989It wurdt tsjusterderoanFriesch Dagblad06-05Taalsnipels 105
    • Hoekstra, Jarich1998Fryske wurdfoarmingLjouwertFryske Akademy
    • Tamminga, Douwe Annes1963Op 'e taelhelling. Losse trochsneden fan Frysk taellibben. IBoalsertA.J. Osinga
    About this article
    Author(s): Siebren Dyk, Joke Weening
    Category: Frisian Morphology
    Keywords: suffixadjectival
    Version: 1.0, April 2016
    Version history:
    version editor(s) date remarks
    1.0 Siebren Dyk, Joke Weening April 2016
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