Valency

What is valency Verb valency or valence refers to the number of arguments controlled by a verbal predicate

Valency refers to the capacity of a verb to take a specific number and type of arguments.

TYPES OF VALENCYVALENCY ZEROVALENCY ONEVALENCY TWOVALENCY THREE

Valency zero

Example: IT IS SNOWING

ZERO ARGUMENT VERB

Valency one

Example: MY BROTHER SNORES

They are INTRANSITIVE VERB or, ONE-ARGUMENT PREDICATE

Other exampleThe dog is sleeping

Valency TWOExample: CHRIS IS MAKING AN OMOLET

Most VERBS take A SUBJECT and AN OBJECT, they are two arguments predicates.

Other exampleThe cat killed a rat

PRACTICEIndentify the valency of the following sentences:The boys are flying kitesFabian broke a vaseMy head achesThey gossip alotIt is windy today

SEMATICS OF MORPHOLOGICAL RELATIONS

Formal Processes of Derivation

Addition : some lexemes are formed by combining morphemes, ex : armchair, busybody

Mutation :change of vowel, change of consonant, or both and by change of stress. Ex: proud -> pride, believe -> belief, choose -> choice, insult -> inslt

Formal Processes of Derivation

Conversion or zero change : the simple change of a word of one class to another with no formal alliteration. Ex: clean, dry, equal (adjective, also verb)

Subtraction (or reduction) : by removing parts of certain lexemes new lexemes are formed (acronym and clipping)

Semantic Processes in DerivationNouns represent entities ; verb represents activities ; adjective represents qualities or characteristic.

When a verb converted to a noun, the noun may refer to concrete entity a person, object or place associated with what the verb signifies.

Semantic Processes in DerivationWhen a verb is derived from a noun, an entity becomes a predicate an entity or status-losing its quantifiable nature but becoming part of a tense aspect system

A noun or verb converted to an adjective gives a word that names a quality associated with some entity.

Types of derivation

Types of derivation VERBSVerbs formed from NounsVerbs formed from AdjectivesVerbs formed from Verbs ADJECTIVESAdjective derived from VerbsAdjectives derived from NounsAdjectives derived from AdjectivesNOUNSNouns derived from VerbsNouns derived from AdjectivesNouns derived from Nouns

1. Verbs formed form nounsPAINT (N) PAINT (V)

Roger painted the wall -> put paint on the wall

PEEL(N) PEEL (V)He peels an apple

2. Verbs from Adjectives

DRY (ADJ) DRY (V)Ella dried the dishes -> Ella made the dishes to be dry.

WIDE WIDENThey are widening the road

3. Verbs from verbs

THE ADDITION OF PREFIXES

WRITE REWRITEFOLD UNFOLDMOVE REMOVE

4. Adjectives derived from verbsBORE BORING/ BORED

Active subjective (-ing) ex: amusing, charming, interesting ex: this book is boring (to me)

Passive objective (-ed, -en) ex: amused, broken, interested ex: I am bored (with / by this book)

5. Adjectives derived from nouns

CHILD CHILDISHHEALTH HEALTHY

6. Adjectives derived from adjectivesTHE ADDITION OF SUFFIXES

HAPPY UNHAPPYLEGAL ILLIGALHARM HARMLESS

7. Nouns derived from verbs

ARRIVE ARRIVAL

REPLY REPLY

DRIVE DRIVER

8. Nouns derived from adjectives

Abstract nouns: a way of treating the quality as a thing, ex: depth, warmth, width, kindness, literacy

Characterized nouns: places characterized by what the adjective represents, ex: absentee, rapids, shallows

9. Nouns derived from nouns

Place nouns: where the basic noun is to be found, ex: fishery, hermitage, orphanage

Person nouns: labels for humans associated with whatever the basic noun signifies, ex: mountaineer, islander, New Yorker.