1.1.1.1.2. Exocentric compounds

The meaning of exocentric compounds is not transparent, as seen in the following example:

 

 

man^tall

  ‘elder brother’                      

                                                                                                 (adapted from Kubus 2008: 80)

 

man^tall does not literally mean ‘a tall man’ but ‘elder brother’.  Some other examples are: 

 

         

          big_steering_wheel^bus

‘big rig’

 

 

 

neck^long

‘giraffe’

 

 

 

head^strong 

‘stubborn’

 

In these examples, the meaning, again, is not literal. A big rig is not a type of bus, a giraffe is not a kind of neck, and a pickle is not a type of jar.

As for head order, generally TÄ°D exocentric compounds are headless (e.g. book^article â€˜law’). One-headed exocentric compounds are usually head-initial (e.g. neck^long â€˜giraffe’).