Van leenwoord tot inheemse nieuwvorming. De herkomst van neoklassieke composita op -cratie.

Abstract

This article examines the origin of Dutch neoclassical compounds with the confix -cratie (-cracy). These are divided into three groups: loanwords with a Greek/Roman element as initial form (e.g. meritocratie, adhocratie), compounds of Dutch origin but with an exotic initial form (sociocratie, teamocratie, infocratie); compounds with a native Dutch word as initial form (e.g. nominering-cratie, kengetallencratie). Finally the results are tentatively placed into a diachronic development; also the question is considered whether the morphological productivity of the confix -cratie is widening.