Morphology

Introduction
Linguistics the scientific study of language Core Components
Phonetics

Phonology
Morphology Syntax Semantics Pragmatics

Key Words
morphology morph morpheme (free & bound)
stem/root affix (prefix, infix & suffix) Inflectional & derivational morphology morphology morphosyntax

Morphology
Words: building blocks of grammar The part of grammar that deals with words:

morphology.
Morphology: the branch of Linguistics that

studies the internal structure of words.

Morphemes
the

smallest meaningful units in a word

Types of Morphemes
Free vs. bound

Free Can stand on their own as individual words book, knock, soft Bound Must be attached to some kind of host *s, *-ed, *-ly books, knocked, softly

Lexical vs. functional Lexical An open class of words we can add new items easily book, knock, soft

Functional A closed class of words in, and, a

Stems/Roots & Affixes

Morphemes can also be grouped into

stems/roots and affixes.

Basic

Stems/roots

word forms that can stand alone of words attached to the stem/root

Affixes
Parts

E.g. dis-agree-ment

prefix-stem/root-suffix

Affixation
Three types:

Prefixation a morpheme is attached to the beginning of the word un-tie Infixation a morpheme is inserted into the middle of the word (See Tagalog Exercise) Suffixation a morpheme is attached to the end of the word go-ing

Class Exercise
Consider the Tagalog data below. What is the

infix in these words, and what is its function? sulat 'write' sumulat 'to write' bili 'buy' bumili 'to buy' kuha 'take' kumuha 'to take punta go pumunta to go