The derivational morpheme -ist(a) // -yst(a) in Polish and Belarusian denominal nomina subiecta

Abstract

The present article discusses person-denoting nouns with the derivational morphemes -ist(a) // -yst(a) in Polish and Belarusian. The investigated suffix is one of the most productive, which is evidenced not only by the large number of collected derivatives but also by the tendency to form neologisms in the two languages. The comparison of formations with the derivational morphemes -ist(a) // -yst(a) allows us to arrive at a number of parallels such as similar semantic groups: names of persons by occupation and profession (cf. ekonomista, taksonomista; Belarusian. фі­нан­­сіст, эка­ла­гіст), names of sportspersons (cf. bad­min­to­nis­ta, golfista neol.; Belarusian баскетбаліст, бейсбаліст), instrument players (cf. cymbalista, gitarzysta; Belarusian мандалiніст, піяніст), or attributive names (cf. amfetamista - neologism, anarchista; Belarusian амфетаніміст neologism, нікатыніст neologism).