Dvandva

This paper considers the way in which the term ‘dvandva’ has been applied to compounds by linguists in western traditions. A classification of types based on the analysis of language descriptions is provided, and some types which have similarities to dvandvas but which do not fit under the same general heading are distinguished from dvandvas. It is suggested that the patterns illustrated may have restricted occurrence genetically and/or areally and that a full classification is thus required for typological reasons.