On the problem of classification of gender distinctive formatives in old english

The aim of this paper is to identify gender determining functions of derivational suffixes in Old English. The article tries to answer the following research questions. Such a question maybe raised: according to what principles can derivational suffixes be classified referring to the gender differentiation? Specific features of a) stem-forming suffixes; b) types of stems; c) one, two and three gender differentiation; d) biological gender differentiation; e) semantic functions of derivational affixes are analyzed with a view toward the classification of gender distinctive formatives in Old English.