Morphology of the toponyms

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to present a synchronic morphological account of Spanish toponyms. I will show that the main word-formation devices in Spanish (derivation, compounding and parasynthesis) are also used in the formation of place names. Historical and sociological aspects will not be taken into account in this study. I will focus on the most significant morphological processes (prefixation, suffixation, compounding) as viewed from the perspective of the common speaker. I have selected toponyms from six different Spanish provinces, three in the North (all the provinces of the Aragon region) and three in the South (Almería, Granada, Sevilla). In the history of the construction of the Spanish nation, the two geo-graphical areas mentioned above were subject to different cultural and political factors. These differences can be neatly recognized at the morphological level. The paper describes commonalities and differences between derivational mechanisms used in place names from these two regions (Aragón and Andalucía).