English MorphologyEnglish Morphology

Prof. João ItamarProf. João Itamar

FocusFocus

What is a word?What is a word? How do new words enter a language?How do new words enter a language?

Morphology Morphology

The study of wordsThe study of words Perceptual units, not physical unitsPerceptual units, not physical units Concept of word associated with Concept of word associated with

written language than spoken written language than spoken languagelanguage

How words are formedHow words are formed

MorphemesMorphemes Free morphemes-units that can stand Free morphemes-units that can stand

alone as words by themselvesalone as words by themselves treetree

Bound morphemes-units that must be Bound morphemes-units that must be attached or bound to a free morphemeattached or bound to a free morpheme

treetreess

Bound morphemesBound morphemes

Affixes (prefix/suffix)Affixes (prefix/suffix) Inflectional morphemes add to a word Inflectional morphemes add to a word

without changing the part of speechwithout changing the part of speech Does not change the meaning of the base wordDoes not change the meaning of the base word 8 inflectional affixes in English8 inflectional affixes in English

-s, -es (plural), -s (possessive), -s, -ing, -ed, -en (show -s, -es (plural), -s (possessive), -s, -ing, -ed, -en (show tense), -er, -est (show comparison)tense), -er, -est (show comparison)

Derivational affixes when added to a base Derivational affixes when added to a base word, a new word is derivedword, a new word is derived

May change the part of speech of the base wordMay change the part of speech of the base word

English MorphemesEnglish Morphemes

Free MorphemesFree Morphemes Bound MorphemesBound Morphemes

TreeTree PrefixesPrefixesDerivational (un-)Derivational (un-)

Suffixes:Suffixes:Derivational (-ion)Derivational (-ion)Inflectional (-s)Inflectional (-s)

Prefixes help readers understand the Prefixes help readers understand the meaning of a word.meaning of a word.

Suffixes tell more about the part of Suffixes tell more about the part of speech than the meaning of the speech than the meaning of the word.word.

Types of WordsTypes of Words

Simple wordsSimple words Words with just one free morphemeWords with just one free morpheme

TreeTree Complex wordsComplex words

Words with a free morpheme and one or Words with a free morpheme and one or more bound morphemesmore bound morphemes

treestrees Compound wordsCompound words

Words that consist of two free morphemesWords that consist of two free morphemes teacupteacup

Word ClassifyingWord Classifying

Content WordsContent Words Parts of speechParts of speech

NounNoun VerbVerb AdjectivesAdjectives adverbsadverbs

Parts of speechParts of speech Can add these Can add these inflectional inflectional suffixessuffixes

Can add these Can add these derivational suffixesderivational suffixes

NounNoun ~s or ~es (plural): ~s or ~es (plural): treestrees, , bushesbushes‘‘s (possessive): s (possessive): animal’sanimal’s

CommenceCommencementmentPreventPreventionionNeatNeatnessnessClarClarityityDependDependenceenceFarmFarmererparachutparachutistist

VerbVerb ~s (third-person ~s (third-person singular):singular):He walks.He walks.~ing (progressive):~ing (progressive):He is walking.He is walking.~ed (past):~ed (past):He walked.He walked.~en (past participle):~en (past participle):He has drivenHe has driven

ClasClassifysifyCharacterCharacterizeizeevaluevaluateate

AdjectiveAdjectiveAdverbAdverb

~er (comparative):~er (comparative):Bigger/fasterBigger/faster est (superlative):est (superlative):Biggest/fastestBiggest/fastest

MischievMischievousousColorColorfulfulFestFestiveiveRegRegalalFlexiFlexiblebleQuicklQuicklyy (adverb) (adverb)

Function WordsFunction Words

DeterminersDeterminers QuantifiersQuantifiers PronounsPronouns AuxiliariesAuxiliaries PrepositionsPrepositions ConjunctionsConjunctions IntensifiersIntensifiers ParticlesParticles

Types of Function WordsTypes of Function Words

TypeType ExampleExample ExampleExample Example Example

DeterminerDeterminerss

TheThe ThisThis MyMy

QuantifiersQuantifiers OneOne Every Every SeveralSeveral

PronounsPronouns You You YourselfYourself WhoWho

AuxiliariesAuxiliaries IsIs HasHas MightMight

PrepositionPrepositionss

InIn BeforeBefore OfOf

ConjunctionConjunctionss

AndAnd IfIf HoweverHowever

ParticlesParticles UpUp DownDown AroundAround

IntensifiersIntensifiers Rather Rather VeryVery soso

How New Words Enter a LanguageHow New Words Enter a Language

Coining-someone makes up a name Coining-someone makes up a name for an object and the name sticksfor an object and the name sticks

Compounding-joining two free Compounding-joining two free morphemes.morphemes.

Clipping-when a word is shortenedClipping-when a word is shortened Mathematics-mathMathematics-math Gasoline-gasGasoline-gas

How New Words Enter a LanguageHow New Words Enter a Language

Acronyms-words made up of the first Acronyms-words made up of the first letters of several words. letters of several words. Acro Acro is is Greek for “high,” so acronyms are Greek for “high,” so acronyms are “high names,” names made up of the “high names,” names made up of the tall (capital) first letters.tall (capital) first letters.

Scuba (self-contained underwater Scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus)breathing apparatus)

How New Words Enter a LanguageHow New Words Enter a Language

Blending-combining two wordsBlending-combining two words Brunch (breakfast + lunch)Brunch (breakfast + lunch) Motel (motor + hotel)Motel (motor + hotel)

Back-formation-noun to verbBack-formation-noun to verb Peddler Peddler peddlepeddle

Borrowing-using words from other Borrowing-using words from other languageslanguages Boutique (French)Boutique (French)

Text AnalysisText Analysis

Take a passage of one hundred Take a passage of one hundred consecutive words. Working in pairs, consecutive words. Working in pairs, classify each word by placing it on a classify each word by placing it on a chart similar to the one that follows. chart similar to the one that follows. All function words go in the rightmost All function words go in the rightmost column. If a word is repeated, list it column. If a word is repeated, list it each time it appears. each time it appears.

Text AnalysisText Analysis

SIMPLESIMPLE COMPLEXCOMPLEX COMPOUNCOMPOUNDD

FUNCTIONFUNCTION

NOUNSNOUNS BOYBOY BOYSBOYS TOOTHBRUSHTOOTHBRUSH THETHE

THROUGHTHROUGH

VERBSVERBS GOGO PRIORITIZEPRIORITIZE

ADJECTIVEADJECTIVESS

GREENGREEN UNSATISFACTOUNSATISFACTORYRY

ADVERBSADVERBS FASTFAST SLOWLYSLOWLY

Analyze your resultsAnalyze your results

What percent of the words are function What percent of the words are function words?words?

What percent are simple words?What percent are simple words? What percent are complex words with What percent are complex words with

inflection suffixes?inflection suffixes? What percent are complex words with What percent are complex words with

derivational suffixes?derivational suffixes? What percent are compound words?What percent are compound words?