In linguistics, a compound is “idiomatic” or “lexicalized” when the meaning cannot be guessed purely by adding the two parts together.
- Literal/Transparent: Apple pie (It is a pie. It has apples. Meaning is obvious.)
- Idiomatic/Opaque: Hot dog (It is not a dog. It is not necessarily hot. Meaning must be memorized.)
In Asaxi:
- Literal: Gashěsoshá (Book-type person). Meaning: A golem made of books.
- Idiomatic: Gadă (Elephant-type). Meaning: Immensity.
This is a list of all Ga-noun Idiomatic Compounds in Asaxi, with their closest English translations.
Literal Ga-noun Compounds in Asaxi
- gajýnnshá (noun) - were-hyena, gnoll
- gamaowo (noun) - the night sky (lit. moon-type sky)
Idiomatic Ga-noun Compounds in Asaxi
- gadă (noun) - immensity, giant (from “elephant”)
- gao (noun) - azure (from “sky”)
- gapo (noun) - red (from “apple”)
- gasi (noun) - white (from “the great unknown”)
- gavi (noun) - green (from “grass” / “life”)