Ickebildande

Ickebildande is a term found in Swedish linguistic discussions to denote elements that do not form new words or word forms. The phrase translates roughly as "not forming" and is used to differentiate productive word-formation processes from non-productive ones in descriptive morphology and lexicography.

Etymology and scope: The term is a compound of icke- (not) and bildande (forming). In Swedish grammar, ickebildande items are contrasted with bildande morfem and affixes that create new lexemes through derivation, compounding, or other productive mechanisms. The label is relatively specialized and not universally adopted across all descriptive grammars.

Usage and examples: In practice, ickebildande may describe historical affixes, fossilized forms, or morphemes whose use is limited to non-productive contexts. It helps describers mark elements that exist in the language but do not contribute to current word formation. Because terminology varies, the precise definition and boundaries of ickebildande can differ between grammars and corpora.

Related topics include derivation, productivity in linguistics, and morphology. Because the term is specialized and its usage is not uniform, readers are advised to consult the sources used in a given work for the exact meaning in that context.