Chapter 4. Derived verbs and future-conditional stem regularization in written Spanish in synchrony and diachrony

Abstract

Spanish verbs derived via prefixation prescriptively retain the morphological complexity of their root verbs. However, some verbs derived from decir and hacer show allomorphic variation in the future and conditional, which is documented by the RAE for decir but not at all for hacer. The results of this study of historical variation suggest decreased morphological transparency of some verbs but not of others. Verbs derived from hacer continue to resist regularization, with the notable exception of satisfacer. The set of decir-derived verbs is much more complex in its tendencies. This may be attributable to either (a) perceived opacity of contradecir or (b) increased analogical pressure from maldecir and bendecir which are completely regularized in modern usage. The presence of regularized bendecir and its possible effects on etymologically related verbs contrasts with the resistance of regularization of hacer-derived verbs and the consequent absence of analogical pressure.