Syntax and Morphology

Question 1

Affix

Answer 1

A meaningful form that is attached to another form, to make a more complex word (un+kind+ness)

Question 2

Aspect

Answer 2

The duration or type of temporal activity denoted by a verb, e.g. completion or non-completion of an action.

Question 3

Auxiliary Verb

Answer 3

A verb used along with a lexical verb to make grammatical distinctions

Question 4

Bound Form

Answer 4

A morpheme that cannot occur on its own as a word (de-, -tion)

Question 5

Case

Answer 5

In an inflecting language, the form of a noun, adjective, or pronoun, showing its grammatical relationship to other words.

Question 6

Chereme

Answer 6

The smallest contrastive unit in a sign language.

Question 7

Deep Grammar Structure

Answer 7

An underlying level of grammatical organization that specifies how sentences should be interpreted.

Question 8

Derivation

Answer 8

A major process of word formation, esp. using affixes to produce new words (act to action). The set of analytical steps required to generate a sentence.

Question 9

Description

Answer 9

An objective and systematic count of the patterns and use of a language or variety.

Question 10

Ellipsis

Answer 10

The omission of part of a sentence, where the missing element is understood from the context. (Where is the book? On the table).

Question 11

Free Form

Answer 11

A minimal grammatical unit that can be used as a word without additional elements; also known as a free morpheme.

Question 12

Generative

Answer 12

Said of a grammar that uses a set of formal rules to define the membership of (generate) the infinite set of grammatical sentences in a language.

Question 13

Hierarchy

Answer 13

A classification of linguistic units into a series of successively subordinate keels, esp. an analysis of sentences into clauses, phrases, words, and morphemes.

Question 14

Inflection

Answer 14

An affix that signals a grammatical relationship, e.g. case, tense (girl’s, walkED)

Question 15

Modal

Answer 15

A verb that signals contrast in speaker attitude (mood), e.g. may, can.

Question 16

Morpheme

Answer 16

The smallest contrastive unit of grammar (man, de-, -tion, -s)

Question 17

Morphology

Answer 17

THe study of word structure, esp. in terms of morphemes.

Question 18

Prescription

Answer 18

An authoritarian (prescriptive or normative) statement about the correctness of a particular use of language.

Question 19

Productivity

Answer 19

The creative capacity of language users to produce and understand an indefinitely large number of sentences.

Question 20

Recursive

Answer 20

Said of a grammatical rule that is capable of repeated application.

Question 21

Syllable

Answer 21

An element of speech that acts as a unit of rhythm, consisting of a vowel, syllabic, or vowel/consonant combination.

Question 22

Syntax

Answer 22

The study of word combinations; also, synthetics. The study of sentence structure.

Question 23

Telegrammatic/Telegraphic

Answer 23

Said of speech that omits function words and dependent content words (Man kick ball).

Question 24

Tense

Answer 24

A change in the form of a verb to mark the time at which an action takes place (past, present, etc.)

Question 25

Voice

Answer 25

A grammatical system varying the relationship between subject and object of the verb, esp. contrasting active and passive voices (The cat saw the dog vs The dog was seen by the cat)