ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the way in which words are derived from other words in German. This is a highly complex issue, as there are usually different ways of deriving words of a similar meaning and there often is no apparent ‘reason’ for the choice of derivation (e.g. if we say schlafen der Schlaf why are Essen *der Ess or trinken *der Trink incorrect, the correct forms being das Essen and das Getränk?). Moreover, it is hardly ever the case that a German derivation corresponds to a single English equivalent. For these reasons, this chapter does not set out hard-and-fast rules for word formation in German but simply lists the most common forms of derivation which the student is encouraged to recognise.
