ENGL 386
Fall 2015/2016
KAU/ Rabigh
Girls section
3.1. Introduction
In this chapter, we're going to look at the most common ways of forming new lexemes in
English and in other languages of the world.
3.2. Kinds of morphemes
Morphemes
Free
bound
Affix
Prefix
suffix
base
other types
Chapter 5
Frog
re-
-ness
derm
Ride
un-
-ize
endo
a- Free morpheme: a morpheme that can stand alone, e.g. wipe
b- Bound morpheme: morphemes that can't stand alone, e.g. rec- Derived words: new lexemes that are formed with prefixes and suffixes on a base.
d- Base: is the semantic core of the word to which the prefixes and suffixes attach.
e- The difference between affixes and bound bases. Read pages 33 & 34
3.3. Affixation
3.3.1. Word formation rules
a- ness + adj = noun, e.g. red > redness
b- un + adj = opposite, e.g. happy > unhappy
c- un + v = reverse action, e.g. tie > untie
d- "un" doesn't attach to all "v" and "adj", read the challenge box, page 36.
e- ize + n/adj = v, e.g. hospitalize/civilize
f- ify + n/adj = v, e.g. classify/uglify
Ms. Rasha Ali
Chapter Three
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ENGL 386
Fall 2015/2016
KAU/ Rabigh
Girls section
3.3.2. Word structure
Words are more like onions than like necklaces because onions are made up of layers from
innermost to outermost.
un
happy
ness
N
A
A
Un
happy
ness
Exs. Draw the tree for "conventionalization" in your note pad.
3.3.3. What do affixes mean? Read pages 39, 40 & 41
a- Personal affixes
b- Negative and privative affixes
c- Prepositional and relational affixes
d- Quantitative affixes
e- Evaluative affixes
3.3.4. To divide or not to divide?
a- Some morphemes are borrowed from different languages like: Latin and French, e.g.
port=portare > to carry.
b- Cran morphs e.g. cranberry, raspberry. We can divide words into morphemes here more
than we were, even though we know that one part of the word isn't meaningful in the way
morphemes usually are.
3.4. Compounding
Compounds are words that are composed of two (or more) bases, roots, or stems.
Ms. Rasha Ali
Chapter Three
2
ENGL 386
Fall 2015/2016
KAU/ Rabigh
Girls section
English compounds:
a- Compounds of two nouns: book store
b- Compounds of two adj: icy cold
c- An adjective and a noun: greenhouse
3.4.1. When do we have a compound? Read in page 43
3.4.2. Compound structure
Compounds need to be limited to two bases, e.g. windmill, but sometimes they can be
complex, e.g. paper towel dispenser factory building committee report. Some compounds
can be ambiguous, e.g. arctic cat observer (read more in page 44 & 45)
3.4.3. Types of compounds
English compounds are therefore said to be right-headed. What does this mean? It means
the second part in the compounds determine both the part of speech and the semantic kind.
For example, greenhouse is a noun because house (the 2nd part) is a noun.
Dividing up compounds into:
Synthetic
Two lexemes
The head is a verb
The non-head is an argument for the head
(verb)
Examples: dog walker, home made
Root
Two lexemes
The head can be a noun, adjective or verb
The non-head is not derived from a verb.
Examples: windmill, ice cold
Compounds classification:
a- Attributive compound: non-head is a modifier of the head, e.g. snail mail.
b- Coordinative compound: both words are head, e.g. producer-director.
c- Subordinative compound: one element is interpreted as the argument of the other,
usually as its object. Usually this happens when one element is a verb or derived from a
verb, e.g. truck driver.
We can divide the compounds classification into:
a- Endocentric: referent of the compound is always the same as the referent of its head.
b- Exocentric: referent of the compound is not the referent of the head.
For examples read more in page 48.
Ms. Rasha Ali
Chapter Three
3
ENGL 386
Fall 2015/2016
KAU/ Rabigh
Girls section
3.5. Conversion
To form new lexemes by shifting the category or part of speech of an already existing lexeme
without adding an affix. For example, table > to table (n to v), to throw > a throw (v to n).
you'll find more examples in pages 49 & 50.
3.5.1. What s conversion? Read page 50
3.6. Minor process
To form new words there are many ways. Some we mentioned before (affix, compounding
and conversion) these are the most common ways. There are a number of less common:
3.6.1. Coinage
The invention of a new word or phrase. We rarely coin completely new words, choosing
instead to recycle bases and affixes into new combinations.
3.6.2. Backformation
The base comes before the word derived by affixation. For example, write > writer
3.6.3. Blending is a process of word formation in which parts of lexemes that are not
themselves morphemes are combined to form a new lexeme. For example, "brunch" is a
combination of breakfast and lunch. Read in page 52 for more examples.
3.6.4. Acronyms and Initialisms
When the first letters of words that make up a name or a phrase are used to create a new
word, e.g. FBI = Federal Bureau of Investigation.
3.6.5. Clipping is a means of creating new words by shortening already existing words, e.g.
info > information, blog > web log. Read in page 53 for more examples.
Ms. Rasha Ali
Chapter Three
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