More elaborate word form

Compound within compound

Lets Review: Compound

A compound is a complex word that is
formed out of a combination of stems (as
opposed to stem + affix)
e.g.

as one word,
distinctive phonological
pattern

Compound within Compound

This was not an accident
or an arbitrary
restriction.
Oven cleaner

Window cleaner

Window oven cleaner

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

Internal Structure
Like with other complex words, the internal
structure of compounds is crucial.
There are cases of ambiguities like that with
unlockable
Example: obscure document shredder
1) Person who shreds obscure documents
[[obscure document] shredder]
2) Obscure person who shreds documents

[obscure [document shredder]]

Compounding

An interesting property of compounds is that although they are words, they

form a productive system, without limits (as far as grammar is concerned, not
memory).

Note also that compounds have special accentual (stress) properties:

judge
trial judge
murder trial judge
murder trial judge reporter
murder trial judge reporter killer
murder trial judge reporter killer catcher
murder trial judge reporter killer catcher biographer
murder trial judge reporter killer catcher biographer pencil set

Stressing
The whole compound should have its main
stress on the left-hand element.
Example: 1. Window oven.
stress
2. Window oven cleaner
stress