COMPOUND WORDS
In forming compound words the rule of word placing is exactly reversed, and the determinant precedes the determined.
A compound noun is formed by inserting the vowel a between the determining word and the principal word.
Vol-a-pük, world-language.
Potamon, postage (post-money).
Pükatidel, language teacher.
Flentapük, language of France, French language.
Yagadog, hunting dog, hound.
Nulayel, new-year.
The first part of the compound may be considered as the kimafal, and usually the meaning of the compound may be expressed by placing it after the principal word either in the kimafal or in the adjectiv form; pük vola, mon potik, tidel pükas, pük flentik, dog yagik, yel nulik. But the meaning of the compound word is more specialized. Pük vola may mean a language of the world, any language of the world, while volapük means a language understood through the whole world.
In a few compounds instead of a the syllables as, i and o, are used as connectivs, tho' there seems to be no settled rule.
Vödasbuk, dictionary.
Pölivegam, wandering astray.
Sometimes three nouns are compounded together, but care must be taken not to produce too long words.
Volapükatidel, universal-language-teacher.
PREFIXES
Words formed by prefixing syllables are in reality a kind of compounds in which the first part is intimately blended with the second. For example, in glezif, a city, composed of
| prefix | gle- | + | noun | zif, |
| great | town; |
zif is the principal word and gle- the determinant.
