Field Approach to the Word-Formation Category of Gothic Abstract Nouns

Although investigated in numerous studies, abstract nouns in Gothic have not yet been considered from the standpoint of the field approach. It is argued that this approach to the Old Germanic abstract nouns is beneficial because it enables researchers to present the attested systematic relations in the word-formation subsystem in the form of a model. This model may help reveal some underlying causes that make some word-formation patterns to be more productive than others. Besides, this field model in Gothic can be the basis for comparison with other languages, thus, it can contribute to the development of a dynamic model of the analyzed category giving an insight into the mechanisms regulating its functioning.