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Derivation in lexical morphology

 

In this article, we explore the process of derivation in lexical morphology, looking at how words are created by adding affixes to base forms. We'll also examine some of the different types of affixes and how they can change the meaning of a word.

Introduction

Lexical morphology is the study of how words are formed, and derivation is one of the key processes involved. Derivation involves the creation of new words by adding affixes to base forms, and it's an essential part of language construction.

In this article, we'll explore how derivation takes place in lexical morphology, looking at the different types of affixes that can be added to base forms to create new words. We'll also examine how affixes can change the meaning of a word, and look at some examples to help illustrate the process.




The Basics of Derivation in Lexical Morphology

At its most basic level, derivation involves adding an affix to a base form to create a new word. There are two main types of affixes that can be added: prefixes and suffixes.



Prefixes

Prefixes are affixes that are added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. Some common prefixes include:

  • un-: This prefix is used to indicate the opposite or absence of something. For example, "happy" becomes "unhappy" when the prefix is added.
  • pre-: This prefix is used to indicate that something comes before or is in advance of something else. For example, "test" becomes "pretest" when the prefix is added.
  • re-: This prefix is used to indicate repetition or the return to a previous state. For example, "do" becomes "redo" when the prefix is added.

Suffixes

Suffixes are affixes that are added to the end of a word to change its meaning. Some common suffixes include:

  • -er: This suffix is used to indicate a person or thing that performs a certain action. For example, "teach" becomes "teacher" when the suffix is added.
  • -ful: This suffix is used to indicate that something is full of a certain quality. For example, "beauty" becomes "beautiful" when the suffix is added.
  • -ize: This suffix is used to indicate the act of making something into a certain state or condition. For example, "modern" becomes "modernize" when the suffix is added.

How Affixes Change the Meaning of a Word

Affixes can change the meaning of a word in a variety of ways. They can indicate negation or reversal, indicate a particular tense or aspect, or even change the part of speech of a word.

Negation and Reversal

As we saw earlier, the prefix un- can be used to indicate the opposite or absence of something. Similarly, the prefix dis- can be used to indicate reversal or negation. For example:

  • "appear" becomes "disappear"
  • "agree" becomes "disagree"

Tense and Aspect

Suffixes can be used to indicate tense and aspect, which are important parts of grammar. For example:

  • -ed: This suffix is used to indicate past tense. For example, "walk" becomes "walked" when the suffix is added.
  • -ing: This suffix is used to indicate present participle. For example, "run" becomes "running" when the suffix is added.

Changing Part of Speech

Affixes can also be used to change the part of speech of a word. For example:

  • -ness: This suffix can be added to adjectives to create nouns that describe a state or quality. For example, "happy" becomes "happiness" when the suffix is added.
  • -ize: This suffix can be added to nouns and adjectives to create verbs that describe the act of making something into a certain state or condition. For example, "modern" becomes "modernize" when the suffix is added.

Examples of Derivation in Lexical Morphology

Let's take a look at some examples of how affixes can be added to base forms to create new words:

  • ·         "Friend" can become "unfriend" by adding the prefix un-, indicating the opposite of friendship.
  • ·         "Believe" can become "disbelieve" by adding the prefix dis-, indicating the reversal of belief.
  • ·         "Day" can become "daytime" by adding the suffix -time, indicating a specific period during the day.
  • ·         "Friend" can become "friendly" by adding the suffix -ly, indicating the quality of being friendly.

These examples demonstrate how affixes can be used to create new words with different meanings and functions.

FAQs

What is the difference between a prefix and a suffix?

A prefix is an affix that is added to the beginning of a word, while a suffix is an affix that is added to the end of a word. Both prefixes and suffixes can be used to create new words with different meanings.

What are some common prefixes and suffixes?

Some common prefixes include un-, pre-, and re-, while some common suffixes include -er, -ful, and -ize.

Can affixes change the part of speech of a word?

Yes, affixes can be used to change the part of speech of a word. For example, the suffix -ness can be added to adjectives to create nouns that describe a state or quality.

Conclusion

Derivation is an important process in lexical morphology that involves adding affixes to base forms to create new words. Affixes can be prefixes or suffixes, and they can change the meaning of a word in a variety of ways. Affixes can indicate negation or reversal, indicate tense or aspect, or even change the part of speech of a word.

By understanding the process of derivation and the different types of affixes that can be used, we can gain a better understanding of how language is constructed and how new words are created.

 

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