Between Syntax, Phraseology and Word Formation

The focus of the present paper is laid on the relations between external syntax and word-formation. nominalizations of underlying external syntax and (poetical) phraseology into (appellative) nominal compounds, linguistic processes that lead to a broad spectre of results – from nonce formations, occasionalisms and idiolectal praeclara rara to established items of lexicon: compounded attributives, (poetical) characterizations, ad-hoc and then constant epithets of gods and persons. The studies of this area in the field of Indo-Iranian so far have mostly been limited to the Rigvedic material and some processes of lexicalization of epithets and ‘cognomina’ to theonyms and (personal) names. To enlarge this horizon, the phraseological combinatorics of the word for ‘pillar, column’, OPers. stūnā-, f., YAv. stūnā-, Ved. sthū́ṇā-, has been taken as a case-study object. Both in its everyday usage as well as in its metaphoric applications in texts of ritual character, the word seems to belong to a common stratum of Indic and Iranian and goes back to an inherited Indo-Iranian word. Beyond its appellative use, the noun is demonstrably attested as a (compositional) term in the onomastic area and has a good chance to represent a strong case of multiple correspondences between the domain of personal names and poetical phraseology, with a series of parallels other similar formations within Old Persian, Avestan and Indo-Iranian in general.