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-ant
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The non-Germanic suffix -ant derives nouns with a common gender from non-Germanic verbs in -earje. The suffix -ear is truncated. The derivations are agent nouns. An example is demonstrearje to demonstrate > demonstrant protester. The stress of the derived noun is always on the suffix.

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[+]General properties

The non-Germanic suffix -ant derives nouns with common gender from non-Germanic verbs in -earje. Examples are:

Table 1
Base form Derivation
demonstrearje to demonstrate demonstrant protester
arrestearje to arrest arrestant detainee
passearje to pass passant passer-by
kommandearje to command kommandant commander
fabrisearje to manufacture fabrikant manufacturer

These derivations have common gender and they are agent nouns. One exception is restant remnant (coming from restearje to remain, be left) which is an object.

Although most of the time one can connect a derivation in -ant to a verb, there are exceptions for which a base form does not exist in Frisian. An example is the noun ramplesant substitute, which lacks a verbal base (*ramplesearje).

Comparable suffixes are -eur and -int.

[+]Phonological properties

The suffix is pronounced as [ɔnt] and it carries stress: arresTANT [arəstɔnt] detainee (from arresTEARje [arəstjɛrjə] to arrest).

extra
Literature

This topic is based on Hoekstra (1998:102).

References
  • Hoekstra, Jarich1998Fryske wurdfoarmingLjouwertFryske Akademy
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