Affix
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| − | ''' | + | An '''affix''' is a morpheme that is attached to a word stem to form a new word. |
| + | == Types == | ||
| + | Affixes may be derivational or inflectional. | ||
| + | *'''Inflectional''' affixes assign grammatical properties (such as number, gender, tense, person) to the stem in order to form the different word forms of the same lexeme ("-s" in "tables", "-ed" in "loved") | ||
| + | *'''Derivational''' affixes form a new lexeme by modifying the meaning (and sometimes the category) of the root ("un-" in "unhappy", "-ness" in "happiness"). | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Position == | ||
| + | Affixes are divided depending on their position with reference to the stem | ||
*prefix (PFX) - Appears at the front of the root (such as "un-" in "undo", or "re-" in "rewrite") | *prefix (PFX) - Appears at the front of the root (such as "un-" in "undo", or "re-" in "rewrite") | ||
*suffix (SFX) - Appears at the back of the root (such "-s" in "tables", or "-er" in "writer") | *suffix (SFX) - Appears at the back of the root (such "-s" in "tables", or "-er" in "writer") | ||
*infix (IFX) - Appears within the root (very rare in English, such as "-ma-" in "sophistimacated") | *infix (IFX) - Appears within the root (very rare in English, such as "-ma-" in "sophistimacated") | ||
| − | *circumfix (CCX) - Appears at the front and at the back of the root (very rare in English, such as "a-" + "-ed" in "ascattered") | + | *circumfix (CCX) - Appears at the front and at the back of the root (very rare in English, such as "a-" + "-ed" in "ascattered") |
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Revision as of 20:28, 12 August 2013
An affix is a morpheme that is attached to a word stem to form a new word.
Types
Affixes may be derivational or inflectional.
- Inflectional affixes assign grammatical properties (such as number, gender, tense, person) to the stem in order to form the different word forms of the same lexeme ("-s" in "tables", "-ed" in "loved")
- Derivational affixes form a new lexeme by modifying the meaning (and sometimes the category) of the root ("un-" in "unhappy", "-ness" in "happiness").
Position
Affixes are divided depending on their position with reference to the stem
- prefix (PFX) - Appears at the front of the root (such as "un-" in "undo", or "re-" in "rewrite")
- suffix (SFX) - Appears at the back of the root (such "-s" in "tables", or "-er" in "writer")
- infix (IFX) - Appears within the root (very rare in English, such as "-ma-" in "sophistimacated")
- circumfix (CCX) - Appears at the front and at the back of the root (very rare in English, such as "a-" + "-ed" in "ascattered")
