Word-building elements
free M=free root
morpheme
inf. A
prefix
affix
der. A
bound M
root
suffix
Word-building elements
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Basic statistics
Zeiger: Encyclopedia of English（1979)
Total: 647 (roots, affixes)
Roots: 359 (all from Latin and Greek except
15)
Affixes: 288 (prefixes: 107，suffixes: 181)
123 from Latin and Greek, 43%
64%
59 from Anglo-Saxon,
21%
3. 1 Affixation
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What is affixation?
affixes + bases = new words
the process of making new words by
adding affixes to bases
affixes = prefix + suffix
Characteristics:
Prefixes change meaning
Suffixes change part of speech
Prefixation
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Definition:
prefix + base = new word
Process of making new words by adding
prefixes to bases
Classification:
Prefixes are classified according to meaning.
Prefixation
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Classes of prefixes: 9
1. Negative prefixes: 5
a-, dis- in-(il-,ir-,im-), non-, un- =
无,非,不,没
amoral ≠ immoral
inability ≠ disability
disinterested (公正无私)≠ uninterested
illogical but disloyal
Prefixation
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2. Reversative prefixes: 3
de-, dis-, un- = reverse the action
disunite
unwrap
decentralize
Prefixation
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3. Pejorative prefixes: 3
mal-, mis-, pseudo- = bad, badly, wrong
maltreatment 虐待
misuse
pseudo-science
Prefixation
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4. Prefixes of degree or size: 15
arch-, hyper-, ultra-: (unusual)
Pair of synonym
extra-, super-: extra-large, superman
mini-, micro: mini-cinema, microscope
out-, sur-: outlive, surpass
Prefixation
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4. Prefixes of degree or size: 15
arch-, hyper-, ultra-: (unusual)
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Pair of antonyms
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macro-, micro-: macrocosm, microcosm
under-, over-: underestimate, overestimate
super-, sub-: superstructure, sub-culture
Prefixation
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5. Prefixes of orientation and
attitude:4
anti-, contra-, counter-, proanti-: anti-violence
counter-: counter-violence
contra-: contra-flow
pro-: pro-democratic
Prefixation
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6. Locative prefixes: 6
extra-, fore-, inter-, intra-, tele-, transextra- = outside: extra-curriculum
fore- = front: forehead
inter- = between:
intra- = within: intra-linguistic
tele- = far
trans- = over, across: trans-Atlantic
Prefixation
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7. Prefixes of time and order: 4
ex(former)
post(after)
pre(before)
re(again)
pre-, post-: pre-war, post-war (adj)
ex-: ex-president
re-: reorganize
Prefixation
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8. Number prefixes: 8
uni-(mono-):
unicycle
bi- :
bicycle
tri- :
tricycle
semi-(hemi-): hemisphere
multi-(poly-) : multi-national
Prefixation
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9. Miscellaneous prefixes: 4
auto-: auto-biography
neo-: neo-classicism
pan-: pan-African
vice-: vice-chair
Prefixation
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Highly productive prefixes: 4
de-: negate, reverse, remove
depenalize, defocus, depoliticize
defrost, defog, defeather, depost,
deschool (abolish traditional schools)
devalue (lessen the value of),
deplane, detrain (get off)
Prefixation
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non-: (to nouns, adjectives, adverbs)
not, not important, of little value,
not traditional
non-scientific, non-musician, non-additive
non-book, non-novel
non-friend, non-hero
Prefixation
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anti-:
1. against, preventing
anti-crime, anti-fat, anti-noise
2. against traditional characteristics
anti-art, anti-music, anti-novelist,
anti- theatre
Prefixation
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Example:
In my happier nightmare," he adds, "I see
myself attending an anti-play with an
anti-audience after a dinner prepared by an
anti-cook."
Prefixation
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mini-: very small
mini-crisis
mini-election
mini-lecture
mini-by-pass
mini-war
mini-boom
mini-bikini
minibus
Suffixation
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Definition:
suffix + base = new word
Process of making new words by adding
suffixes to basis
Characteristics of suffix:
Changing part of speech
Classification according to part of speech
Suffixation
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1. Noun suffixes
1) De-nominal nouns = changing nouns
into new nouns
-eer, -ster, -er, -ess, -ette, -let,
profiteer, gangster, trickster
teenager, hostess,
cigarette, booklet,
concrete nouns
Suffixation
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-age, -dom, -ery (-ry), -ful, -hood, -ing,
-ism, -ship
wastage, officialdom, slavery, mouthful,
adulthood, farming, terrorism,
sportsmanship
He is working.
working people
farming
abstract nouns
Suffixation
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2) Deverbal nouns = changing verbs into N
Concrete: -ant, -ee, -ent, -er(-or)
informant, trainee, respondent
Abstract: -age, -al, -ance, -ation (-ition,
-tion, -sion, -ion), -ence, -ing, -ment
marriage, dismissal, attendance, protection,
decision, existence, tubing, judgement
Suffixation
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3) De-adjective nouns: -ity, -ness
- ive: produc`tivity, sensitivity
-ar: popu`larity, familiarity
- al: mo`rality, generality
- able/-ible: ability, responsi`bility
Suffixation
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4) Noun and adjective suffixes = making
new nouns and adjectives
-ese, -an, -ist,
Chinese; Australian, socialist
Suffixation
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2 Adjective suffixes
1) De-nominal suffixes= changing N into adj
-ed, -ful, -ish, -less, -like, -ly, -y
simple-minded, successful, childish,
priceless
-ly: (to) father, mother, brother, sister,
daughter, man, woman
-y: (to) cream, rain, sun, wind, winter, sand,
hill, hair, water
Suffixation
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-al (-ial, -ical): cultural, philosophical
-ic
-ous (-eous, -ious): famous, courageous
-esque: picturesque
Suffixation
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-ic
classic 经典的
comic 喜剧性的
historic 历史性的
economic 经济上的
electric 电动的
-ical
classical 古典的
comical 滑稽的
historical 历史上的
economical 节俭的
electrical 与电有关
Suffixation
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2) De-verbal suffixes (added to verbs):
-ive (-ative, -sive)
active, decisive
-able (-ible, -uble)
Suffixation
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-uble
solve,
resolve
soluble,
resoluble
-able
educate, operate,
penetrate, violate,
cultivate, calculate,
communicate, navigate
educable, operable,
penetrable, violable,
cultivable, calculable,
communicable,
navigable
-ible
sense, corrupt,
irresist, divide,
defend
sensible, corruptible,
credible, irresistible,
divisible,
defensible
Suffixation
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3. Adverb suffixes
-ly, -ward(s), -wise
- ward(s): (to)
in, out, up, down, back, fore, side, sky,
earth, east, west, north, south
- wise: (to) (as far as …is concerned)
budget, time, money, security, economy,
life, weather
Suffixation
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4. Verb suffixes
-ate, -en, -(i)fy, -ize(-ise)
originate, darken, strengthen, solidify,
beautify, modernize, symbolize
Suffixation
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Vogue suffixes: 3
-nik = a person who becomes a member
of; devoted to
folknik, peacenik, jazznik, protestnik,
city-nik, good-willnik
Suffixation
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-ese = style of; the characteristics of
Afro-Americanese
非裔美语
Americanese
美国英语
cablese
电报用语
childrenese
儿童语言
computerese
电脑语言
educationese
教育行话
golfese
高尔夫球用语
Suffixation
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guide-bookese
headlinese
jargonese
journalese
newspaperese
New Yorkese
novelese
指南文体
标题风格
行业用语
新闻体
报刊文体
纽约风格
小说体
Suffixation
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officialese
sociologese
telegraphese
Washingtonese
officialese
sociologese
telegraphese
官方文体
社会学术语
电报文体
华盛顿特色
官方文体
社会学术语
电报文体
Suffixation
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Washingtonese
Carlylese
Johnsonese
Macaulayese
Meredithese
Nabokovese
Ruskinese
华盛顿特色
卡莱尔风格
约翰逊风格
麦考莱风格
麦芮狄士风格
纳波科夫风格
拉斯金风格
Suffixation
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-ee: (to) transitive verbs to make a noun
which is the receiver of the action
appointee, employee
BUT
flirtee, kickee, kissee, laughee, huggee,
meetee, shavee, toastee, consultee, visitee,
slanderee, rushee, curee
absentee