Principal Word-Formation Processes Flashcards
What is affixation?
Coining a word by adding a word-formation element (derivational affix) to
a word-formation (derivational) base.
prefixation:
w-f element (prefix) + w-f base
suffixation:
w-f base + w-f element (suffix)
infixation (compounding?):
w-f base + infix + w-f base
Classify prefixation according to denotation
negative:
immoral vs. amoral
anti-, counter-, de-, dis-, in-, non-, un-, il-, ir-, im-, a-
pejorative:
pseudodemocracy
mal-, mis-, pseudo-
of time or order:
foreground vs. background ex-, fore-, back-, post-, pre-
of relation:
antidemocratic
pro-, anti-
of sameness or difference:
homogenious vs. heterogenious
homo- vs. hetero-
of accompanying or joining:
co-operation co-
of number:
monolingual vs. bilingual
bi-, giga-, mono-, multi-, poly-, uni-
of making or getting into st.:
empower
en/-em-
of size:
gigantic vs. (gigabyte) mini-, hyper-, super-, giga
of location/pposition or degree:
subway vs. underground
inter-, over-, semi-, sub-, under-
semiaffixes - correlate with function words
What types of suffixation as part of speech formation do we know?
Nominal:
bakery, agreement
-age, -ance, -dom, -er, -eer, -ery, -ess, -hood, -ion, -ism, -ness, -th, -ing
Verbal:
criminalise, simplify
-ate, -ify, ise/-ize, -en
Adjectival:
historic vs. historical
-able, -ible, -al, -ant, -ful, -ic, -atic, -isch, -ive, -less, -like, -ous, -en, -ing, -ly
Adverb:
lateward, eagerly, (friendly)
-fold, -ward, -wards, -wise, -ways, -ly
What are polysemantic suffixes?
Classify suffixation according to thematic sense (denotation)
agent forming teacher
-or, -er, -ist, -ant
appurtenance forming
-an, -ese, -ian
collectivity and status forming
-dom, -ery, -age, -ship
diminutive forming
-let, -ling, -y/ie
Classify suffixation according to lexico-grammatical status - Denominal (a noun is the w-f base)
(noun + suffix => new word: boy + ish => boyish)
noun + ful (adj) = mouthful
noun + less (adj) = handless
noun + ish (adj) = boyish
noun + some (adj) = troublesome
Classify suffixation according to lexico-grammatical status - Deverbal (a verb is the w-f base)
(verb + suffix => new word: read + able => readable)
verb + -able (adjective) = readable
verb = ment (noun) = government
verb + er (noun) = dancer
Classify suffixation according to lexico-grammatical status - Deadjectival (an adjective is the w-f base)
(adjective + suffix => new word: kind + ness => kindness)
adj + ish (adj) = reddish
adj + ness (noun) = kindness
adj + ly (adverb) = kindly
adjective + en (verb) = blacken
What types of conversion do we know?
Full and partial
Describe full conversion
Coining a new word through a change of its paradigm by means of zero derivation; derivation using only zero
Describe deverbal nouns
the instance of the action (to) jump + zero nominal suffix => (a) jump(0)
verb → the agent of the action (help V – help N)
verb → the place of the action (walk V – walk N)
verb → the object of result of the action (peel V – peel N)
Describe denominal verbs
butcher N = an action characteristic of the object = butcher V
screw N = an instrumental use of the object = screw V
fish N = acquisition or addition of the object = fish V
dust N = deprivation of the object = dust V
Describe denominal adjectives and nouns formed from phrasal verbs
noun = the feature of the object
e.g. town N = town A or school N = school A
nouns from phr.v.
make up V = make-up N
come back V = comeback N
Describe partial conversion
[swim V → (a) swim N] => auxiliary have + (a) swim N = have a swim]
swim → have a swim
walk → take a walk
laugh → give a laugh
swim V → [have V + a swim N] V
What is compunding? What structure do they have?
Coining a new word through putting together two word-formation bases
Simple
work+shop → workshop
Derivational
lady+(kill+er) → lady-killer
Compounded
air+(craft+man) / (air+craft)+man → aircraftman