The linguist Laurence Horn has argued (2002) that the prefix...

The linguist Laurence Horn has argued (2002) that the prefix un-really does attach to nouns, contrary to what we said in Section 3.3. He has collected such examples as undeath, uncountry, uncopier, unphilosophy, and unpublicity. Can you think of or find other examples where un- has attached to nouns? What do you think these un- nouns mean? (You can use a corpus or dictionary to help think of examples.)

Key Concepts

Derivational Morphology

This concept refers to the process by which new words are created by adding affixes to base words. It involves understanding how elements like the prefix un- alter the meaning or part of speech of the original word, demonstrating how language can evolve and expand its lexicon through systematic morphological changes.

Affix Productivity

Affix productivity concerns the extent to which an affix is actively used in a language to form new words. In the context of prefix un-, this concept is explored by examining whether it can be freely attached to nouns as well as to adjectives or verbs, and if so, whether such formations are widely accepted and semantically coherent.

Semantic Extension and Negation

This concept focuses on how affixes modify the meanings of base words. Typically, the prefix un- carries a negation or reversal meaning, indicating the absence or opposite of a quality. When un- attaches to nouns, it leads to a semantic extension where the resulting word denotes the lack or removal of the concept embodied by the noun.

Corpus and Lexicographical Analysis

Using corpora and dictionaries to analyze language helps provide empirical evidence for the use and frequency of specific morphological phenomena. This concept underscores the importance of data-driven research in linguistics to determine if constructions like un+noun are productive or merely isolated instances.

Lexical Category Flexibility

This concept addresses the idea that morphological rules might not be strictly confined to traditional boundaries of word classes. It examines instances where affixes, typically associated with one category, are applied to another, thus challenging established rules and prompting a reevaluation of what constitutes a word’s typical behavior in language.

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