COINING GERMAN -ER-DERIVATIONS IN LANGUAG E-ACQUISITION - RESULTS OF A LONG-TERM STUDY

The study contains an analysis of about 250 spontaneously coined -er-d erivations of a German child between 2.0 and 4.11. The problem is addr essed how the lexical entry for the -er-suffix is acquired. During the third year, there is no difference in the amount of deverbal compared with denominal derivations. However, during the fourth and fifth year , the amount of deverbal derivations increases rapidly. From the third year on, the child prefers Agent Noun readings over Instrument Noun r eadings. Result Noun readings are produced from the fifth year on. The se findings are discussed with reference to recent theories on lexical acquisition and acquisition of word formation.