altepetl

[Davius Sanctex]

Juan,

A dvandva, for example X-Y, is a coordinate lexical compound in wich both
terms are equally in status and being semantically roughly equivalent of X
and Y. The terms a loanword from a tradiotional sanscrit grammatical term
(other three types of compounds are distinguished in sanscrit according to
its semantic type or syntactical prominence (pra:dha:nyam): Tatpurusa
compounds, in wich a compound of the for XY is a type of Y, avyayi:bha:va or
inflecitonal invariant compounds and Bahuvri:hi compounds in wich XY denotes
a type of entity not relaterd semantically to X or Y].

Examples of these types in Spanish and English are:
Tatpurusa: "fireman", "fountain-pen", "fish-hook" / "hombre rana"
Bahuvri:hi:  ?  / pasacalles, nochebueno, matasuegras
Dvandva:  ? / carricoche, bolilápiz, "sofá cama".

I think most compounds in Englis are Tatpurusa Compounds. In Spanish
Bahuvri:hi compounds are more abundant. Dvandva compounds are rare in both
language but not in sanscrito or nahuatl. (Some adverbial expresions in
Spanish like "a quema ropa" are similar to avyayi:bha:va compounds of
sanscrit).


Davius Sanctex