A Derivative is a name that results
from another name. So a Compound Derivative is a name that is formed from two
or more words and, in most cases, each word fully meaningful on its own, but the resulting derivative meaning something different.
Few examples in the English Language:
ram : page : ram + page: =
rampage
fan : light : fan + light = fanlight
dove : tail : dove + tail = dovetail
under : stand : under + stand = understand
In the Kalabari Language, this sort of formation
also exists:
ama (town) : da ( to take, etc)
: ama +da = amada ( to rule )
ama (town) : de ( to drive away) :
ama + de = ama de ( celebrations of the new year eve)
bara ( hand) : weri (
to keep) : bara + weri= bara weri ( to calm dowm)
beri ( ear ) : nunu (
to pull) : beri + nunu = beri nunu ( to advice)
beri ( ear ) : ye naa
( deafness) : beri + ye naa = beri ye naa( recalciterance, stuborness)
bibi ( mouth ) : ofirima
( to warm food) : bibi + ofirima = bibi ofirima ( to abbreviate
while pronouncing e.g elelenda [ orange] to ele'nda )
boko ( door) : doki
( to find) : boko + doki = boko doki ( to find a way, devise a means, etc of doing something)
bu ( self ) : bu + jiri
= bujiri ( shame)
bu ( self ) : bu + kalama =
bu kalama ( low self esteem)
bu ( self ) : bu + sima =
bu sima ( low dressing profle due to mourning of the dead )
buo ( leg) : ofirima ( to warm food)
: buo + ofirima = buo ofirima ( to hasten; to go faster)
diki ( rope, look,etc) : sima
( to spoil) : diki + sima = diki sima ( to despise, disdain )
diki ( rope, look,etc) : bujiri
( shame) : diki + bujiri = diki bujiri ( mercy,
compassion)
diki ( rope, look,etc) : sirama
: diki + sirama = diki sirama ( idiom for tolerance, to condone )
kana ( basket) : buro
( to pass) : kana + buro = kana buro ( to turn round )
ndo ( breast) :
kuma ( but ) : ndo + kuma= ndo kuma ( to wean a baby)
sibi ( head) : toluma
( to teach) : sibi + toluma = sibi toluma ( to appear, to stick out the head, etc.
sibi ( head) : finji
( to open) : sibi + finji = sibi finji ( headache)
si ( bad): sibi
( head) : bio (in): si + sibi + bio = si sibi bio ( wickedness,
calousness,etc)
tombo ( human ) : la (to
arrive) : tombo + la = tombo la ( adulthood )
toru ( face, sea ) : siye
( bad ) : eri ( to see): toru + siye + eri = toru si'eri ( suffering
, hardship)
toru ( face, sea) : gele ( tall,
high) : toru + gele+gele = toru gele gele ( audasity; boldness)
more...
