LinguisticsLesson 3 of 4 in the course Morphology

Morphological Derivation: Word Formation, Inflection, and Productivity

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Morphological derivation forms new words from existing words, often by adding an affix. It helps explain how a language expands its vocabulary and how words can shift meaning or grammatical category.

Morphological derivation is the process of forming a new word, or lexeme, from an existing word. The existing word is the base; an affix attached to it contributes meaning or helps form the new word.

All flashcards

What is morphological derivation?
Forming a new word, or lexeme, from an existing base, often by adding an affix.
How do prefixes and suffixes differ?
A prefix attaches before a base; a suffix attaches after a base.
Does derivation always change a word’s part of speech?
No. It can change category, as in *slow* → *slowly*, or keep it, as in *common* → *uncommon*.
What is conversion, or zero derivation?
Forming a new word without a visible change in form, as when *breakfast* is used as a verb.
What are nominalization and verbalization?
Nominalization forms a noun; verbalization forms a verb.

Quiz questions

  1. Which statement distinguishes derivation from inflection?Answer: Derivation creates a new lexeme; inflection creates a grammatical form of an existing lexeme.
  2. In *smaller*, what is the function of *-er*?Answer: It is an inflectional suffix marking comparative degree.
  3. What does it mean for a derivational pattern to be productive?Answer: Speakers commonly use it to form new words.
  4. How does derivation differ from compounding?Answer: Derivation attaches a bound affix to a base; compounding combines free morphemes.
  5. How should an *-ing* form be classified when its role is unclear?Answer: Use its function in that word rather than its spelling alone.

Based on the Wikipedia article Morphological derivation, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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