Towards the study of color naming in Portuguese: structure and meaning of constructed nouns and adjectives

摘要: Color naming is a central study subject in Lexicology, although its systematic morphological description Portuguese still lacking. In this we describe the and semantic aspects of complex nouns adjectives constructed on basis basic color terms from language. We focus internal structure these words, as well concerning productivity processes, attempt to associate those with referential capacities studied words. Lexicographical data were used, collected Vocabulario Ortografico do Portugues, theoretical framework research SILEX’s constructional model Morphology. verified that suffixation most productive process, followed by composition. Prefixation rather unproductive. There are differences way derived adjectives, one hand, compounds, other, may name tones degrees saturation. Derived words give rise very imprecise manner, while compounds much more effective precise they them, composition efficient resource available denote brightness.