Running Head: Morphology in Practice

Final Project: Morphology in Practice

ENG 1200
Audrey Olschewski
Salt Lake Community College

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Abstract
Morphology is the analysis of word structure, and because words are the building blocks of a
language (The Ling Space; 2014), morphology is an important field for anyone interested in
language studies. By understanding morphology one can achieve greater enlightenment on
languages both native and foreign. Therefore, this paper was written to illustrate the importance
of, as well as the use of, morphology in everyday life and in natural conversation. By entering
into an interview with a mathematical and scientific genius, the interviewer sought to discover 12
unknown words or phrases and morphologically dissect them. It was the hypothesis of the
interviewer that these 12 unknown words meanings, or their represented processes, could be
explained through a morphological analysis of them. However, while some of the 10 words were
able to be broken down through morphological processes, others proved to be free morphemes,
and others were difficult to breakup due to their scientific terminologies.

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Morphology in Practice
This project was devised in order to show the importance and usefulness of morphology
in understanding the underlying concepts and principles of a language. By understanding
morphology one can achieve greater enlightenment on languages both native and foreign.
Therefore, this paper was written to illustrate the importance of, as well as the use of,
morphology in everyday life and in natural conversation. In other words, this experiment was
devised to show morphology in practice, or to bring it out of the books and into real life. By
entering into a natural conversation with a mathematical and scientific genius, the interviewer
sought to discover 12 unknown words or phrases and morphologically dissect them. It was the
hypothesis of the interviewer that these 12 unknown words meanings, or their represented
processes, could be explained through a morphological analysis of them. By analyzing the
words affixes, categories and properties, the interviewer hoped to gain a basic understanding of
these scientific or mathematical words.
Literature Review
Before we dive into the field practice of Morphology, its important to set up the
prerequisite information. Morphology is the analysis of word structure and words are the
building blocks that make up a language (The Ling Space, 2014). Morphology gives important
insights into the structure of language, the categories of words and the operations that create and
modify words in various ways (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.116). Therefore, linguists
define words as the smallest free form found in language; an element that doesnt have to occur
in a fixed position with respect to neighboring elements, and can even be isolated (O'Grady, W.,
& Archibald, J., 2010, pg.116).

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Words have internal units called morphemes. Morphemes are the smallest units of
language that carries data about the meaning or function of a word. For example, teacher is
made up of 2 morphemes: teach and -er. However, words do not always have to be
deconstructed to get morphemes. Some words, in and of themselves, are considered morphemes.
For example, the word cook cannot be broken down into smaller parts while still carrying
meaning (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.117). These morphemes that can stand by
themselves are called free morphemes. Morphemes that require another morpheme in order to
contain meaning are called bound morphemes. For example, while the word cook is a free
morpheme, the -s we might add to the end of it to make cook plural is a bound morpheme
because -s cannot exist in full meaning by itself. By dissecting a word into its internal
components we can identify the morphemes and classify them based off their roles in the larger
word (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.118).
These morphemes can be classified by their function in the word. For example, the root is
the core of the word and carries the main meaning of the word. The root also determines the
lexical category; whether the word a noun, verb, adjective or preposition. Morphemes can also
be classified as affixes. Affixes are bound morphemes in the form of a prefix (attached to the
beginning of the word), suffix, (attached to the end of the word) or infixes (occur within the
word; not common in English). For example, the prefix is un- while -ed is the suffix in
undefined (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg. 120).
Another important term to understand is called derivation. Derivations are affixes with
words whose meaning or category becomes distinct from its base. For example, heart is a
noun until the derivational affix -less is added to it; in which case it would become the
adjective heartless (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.133). Furthermore, these derivation

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affixes can be separated into two classes. In class 1, affixes trigger changes in the consonant or
vowel segments of the base. For example, the root public sounds different when combined
with -ity as in publicity (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.126). In class 2, affixes have
no effect on segmental make-up. For example, the root prompt sounds the same even with ness added to it, as in promptness (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.127). In contrast
with derivational suffixes are inflectional suffixes. Inflectional suffixes do not change the
grammatical category or the type of meaning found in the word to which it implies. For
example, heart is a noun even when you add -s to the end of it (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J.,
2010, pg.132).
In the study of Morphology words can be categorized into many categories, one of which
is called compounds. Compounds are a combo of 2 already existent words, such as butterfly. It
is important to note that when working with compounds the rightmost morpheme determines the
category of the new word. For example, green (adjective) when combined with house (noun)
becomes greenhouse (noun) (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.128). Compounds can be
distinguished into endocentric and exocentric compounds. Endocentric compounds are explained
by the concept implied by the words head. For example, the word steamboat is an endocentric
compound because a steamboat is a boat powered by steam. An exocentric compound does not
follow the meanings of the compounded words. For example, a redneck is not a person who
has a red neck (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.130).
Other words can be classified as a suppletion, or a word that replaces a morpheme with
an entirely different morpheme in order to indicated grammatical contrast. An example of a
suppletion would be went (past) in connection to go (present) (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J.,
2010, pg.136). Additionally, some words are considered reduplications, which mark a

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grammatical or semantic contrast by repeating all or part of the base to which it implies. There
are very few examples of reduplications in English, but they would include teeny-weeny and
itsy-bitsy (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.137).
Moreover, there are many words which are classified as cliticization or words
pronounced with another word such as Im for I am (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010,
pg.138). Then there are words that are classified as conversions. A conversion assigns an already
existing word to a new syntactic category. For example, the word butter a noun, can become a
verb such as in butter the bread. Some words are considered clippings or words that are
shortened version of another word, such as flu for influenza (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J.,
2010, pg.139). Other words can be defined as blends, or words created from two already existing
words. An example of a blend is the word brunch created from the words breakfast and lunch
(O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.140). Furthermore, words can be considered
backformations or words that are created by removing an affix from another word in the
language. For example, the word edit is derived from editor (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J.,
2010, pg.141).
A word category that is more popular contains words that are derived from the initial
letters of a series of words to be pronounced as a new word. Such words are called acronyms,
such as NATO. Though often confused with acronyms, initialisms take initial letters from words
and places them together, but cannot pronounce them as a single word, such as FBI. Some words
are considered onomatopoeic words, or words created to sound like the ting the describe such as
buzz and sizzle (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.141). Still other words are derived
from names, such as Watt from James Watt. These words are called eponyms (O'Grady, W., &
Archibald, J., 2010, pg.142).

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Besides explaining the categories of words, morphology seeks to define the many
properties that words can possess. One such property is called inflection. Inflection refers to the
modification of a words form to indicate grammatical information of various sorts (O'Grady,
W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.131). Related to inflection, words can have whats called an
internal change, or the process that substitutes a non-morphemic segment for another to mark a
grammatical contrast. For example, sing (present) versus sang (past) (O'Grady, W., &
Archibald, J., 2010, pg.135). Another term to understand when speaking of Morphology, is the
concept of tone placements. Tone placements are designed to differentiate between past and
future tenses. When speaking of tone placements, the symbol marks a high tone, while
signifies a low tone (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.137). Yet another term to consider
when speaking of Morphology is morphophonemics. These are words whose pronunciation is
sensitive to morphological factors. A common example of morphophonemics involves the suffix
-s as in lip[s], pill[z], or judg[ez] (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.143).
Discussion and Methodology
In order to show morphology in practice, or to bring it out of the books and into real life,
an interviewer and interviewee sat down to have a natural conversation (as natural as can be
expected when placed in front of a camera). In this conversation the interviewer asked the
interviewee to speak about their areas of expertise; they being Differential Equations and
Organic Chemistry. This conversation took place, like many do, in the interviewees home, in an
open living area with comfortable chairs placed across from each other. All the equipment used
was a camera for voice recording, a pencil and paper for the interviewers notes, and some
notecards that listed the topics the interviewee wanted to explain. The interviewer participated
much as a student would; by listening carefully and interjecting a comment or question every

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now and then. While the interviewee explained mathematical and scientific words or processes,
the interviewer listened for 12 unknown words or phrases to morphologically dissect. (To see the
interviewees permission form please see Appendix B, page 14.)
Results and Implications
The words derived from this interview were indeed new for me. In fact, some of these
words and phrases were so outlandish that I had no idea where to begin in breaking them down.
The scientific terminologies were difficult to split because they do not use common affixes.
However, by following the morphological steps explained to me through the textbook:
Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction and through the YouTube station: The Ling Space, I
was able to break down some of these new words. My hypothesis was that these 12 unknown
words meanings, or their represented processes, could be explained through a morphological
analysis of them. However, while some of the 10 words were able to be broken down through
morphological processes, others proved to be free morphemes, and others were difficult to
breakup due to their scientific terminologies. This project illustrated that some words meanings
just cannot be hinted at through morphology, because many words are simply free morphemes,
or morphemes that stand by themselves (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg. 75). To see the
12 chosen scientific and mathematical words, as well as their corresponding notes, please see
Appendix A, pages 11-13.
Through this project I was able to achieve a greater understanding of Morphology, as
well as take a more active participation in discovering its part in everyday life. This project
helped me understand the magic words possess, as well as the intelligence and order that is
utilized in developing a language. Furthermore, this experiment has helped me use morphology
to identify and classify words that I had no previous understanding, or dictionary definition of;

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words that would be considered as foreign to me. The study of morphology has given me a
fascination for words as well as a greater appreciation for all languages. Additionally, it has
endowed me with skills that can be utilized in future conversations, careers, or personal interests.
Now if all could be given a basic knowledge of Morphology, Im sure all would experience a
greater respect and passion for language as I have.

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References
The Ling Space. (2014, October 15). Morphemes. Retrieved April 16, 2016, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nduDAN9sKx4
The Ling Space. (2015, January 7). Roots and Affixes. Retrieved April 16, 2016, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN1DxuVt4hI
O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J. (Eds.). (2010). Chapter 4: Morphology. In Contemporary
Linguistics: An Introduction (6th ed., pp. 115-147). Boston, NY: Bedford/ St. Martins.
O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J. (Eds.). (2010). Chapter 4: Morphology. In Contemporary
Linguistics: An Introduction Study Guide (6th ed., pp. 73-105). Boston, NY: Bedford/ St.
Martins.

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Appendix A
*Please note, many of the below affixes are specific to science terminology, and are not common
in day to day words.

1. Transhydrogenation:
Morphemes: 3
Root Word: Hydrogen
Affixes: Inflection affixes: Prefix: Trans- (above, beyond or through)
Suffix: -ation (process or condition)

2. Carbonyl:
Morphemes: 2
Root Word: Carbon
Affixes: Derivational Suffix: -yl (Signifies a monovalent radical)

3. Carbocation
Morphemes: 2
Root Word: Carbocate (with clipping)
Affixes: Inflectional Suffix: -tion (state of being)

4. Ozonolysis
Morphemes: 2
Root Word: Ozone (with clipping)

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Affixes: Inflectional Suffix: -lysis (separation or breakdown)

5. Eigenvalue
Morphemes: 2: Compound with Borrowing
Root Word(s): Eigen (German for characteristic) and Value
Affixes: None

6. Eigenvector
Morphemes: 2: Compound with Borrowing
Root Word(s): Eigen (German for characteristic) and Vector
Affixes: None

7. Hydroboration
Morphemes: 3
Root Word: Boron (with clipping)
Affixes: Prefix: Hydro- (water)
Suffix: -ation (process or condition)

8. NaNH
Morphemes: 1 (N): Initialism
Root Word: NA
Affixes: NA

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9. Dehydrohalogenation
Morphemes: 4
Root Word: Halogen
Affixes: Inflectional Prefixes: De- (lack of or removal of)
Hydro- (water)
Suffix: -ation (process or condition)

10. Markovnikov
Morphemes: 1 (N): Eponym
Root Word: NA
Affixes: NA

11. Halogenation
Morphemes: 2
Root Word: Halogen
Affixes: Inflection Affix: Suffix: -ation (process or condition)

12. Halohydrin
Morphemes: 2
Root Word: Hydrin
Affixes: Inflectional Prefix: Halo- (Greek for salt)

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Appendix B