Chapter 3. Finding compounds

Chapters 1 and 2 outlined the definition of compounding that underpins this entire work, informing data selection and classification for all historical periods. This third chapter presents the historical periods considered, together with a description of the data sources selected for each one. Subsequently, the procedures used to find compounds and ascertain their status are discussed, together with the dating of first attestations and the measurements of relative pattern frequency and productivity. The chapter closes with an explanation of the criteria used to classify compounds.