Morphology Word - smallest free form in language Lexical category: not an affix, is a noun, verb, adjective, or pronoun - simple: one morpheme // complex: 2 or more morphemes (root/base + affix) Morpheme - smallest structure of meaning in language - free morpheme: a word on its own (eg. cat) // bound morpheme: an affix (eg. - ed) Allomorphs - morphemes with same meaning but different spelling (eg. IMperfect and INactive) Root - most basic morpheme/most simplified base - roots can be bound: "whelm" is not a word without over-/under- [complex words only] Base - unmodified structure before affix (can have affix already, must have root) *must be a word Types of affixes: prefix, suffix, infix (-in- such as expletive infixation: abso-fucking-lutely) *emphasis Problematic case: receive VS reuse 1 morpheme, simple word, no affixes VS 2 morphemes, complex word, prefix re- + root -use Types of Morphological Processes 1. Derivation - Add an affix to change the meaning of the word (and often the category) - eg. teach (V) + -er (Af) - teacher *do not confuse this with comparative adj like taller 2. Compounding - No affixation, but two simple words combined - ENDOCENTRIC: defines itself (right-headed/right most word determines meaning) - eg. flower (N) + pot (N) - flowerpot (N) [a pot that contains a flower] - EXOCENTRIC: does not include definition - eg. pick (V) + pocket (N) ++ pickpocket (N) [not a type of pocket]
3. Inflection - Change grammatical meaning, category does not change (eg. tense, progressive) - Plurality: add -s suffix usually (sometimes internal change) - Case: Pronoun forms I saw them and their friends. They saw me and my friends. I/They = subject (nominative pronoun) Them/Me = direct object (accusative pronoun) Their/My = possessive (genitive pronoun) - Agreement - Verb must agree to case: I walk to school, she walks to school - Internal change - Instead of adding an affix, entire word changes (eg. goose + geese) - Suppletion: no pattern, just irregular (eg. past tense of GO is WENT) - Reduplication: repeat the root to emphasis meaning - eg. Tuna salad is a salad, but it't not a salad salad (bc it doesn't have the lettuce and such) - Clitic: possessive -'s that is added to noun PHRASES - eg. The Queen of England's crown - The crown belongs to the Queen of England (not: the English crown has a queen)