Word Formation

Well, we have discussed morphemes. Now, let's discuss how words are created or formed.

As what we have been learning, AFFIXATION is one way of creating new words. Some other ways includes the following.

1. COMPOUNDING
   

   This is done by combining two words into one. Example: fire engine; school bus.
   

2. BLENDING
   

   This is like compounding, but some elements of the original words are missing. Example:
   

• motor + hotel = motel
  
• smoke + fog = smog
  

1. CLIPPING
   

   This is done by cutting some elements of the words to make shorter words. Example
   

• Facsimile = Fax
  
• Professor = Prof
  
• Automobile = auto
  

1. ACRONYM
   

   Acronym is a combination of the initial letters or sounds of some words to make a new word. Examples:
   

   AIDS, RADAR, NASA, NATO, ASEAN, etc.
   

2. CONVERSION
   

   This is done by taking a word from a class of words into another class of words. Example
   

   1. I need to drink. I am thirsty.
      
   2. Please have a drink.
      

   
   

3. EPONYM
   

   This is done by taking some proper names as words. Example:
   

• KODAK for a camera
  
• HONDA for a motorcycle
  
• SANYO for a water pump
  

(These are common in Indonesia)

 

Now, look around. Look at the banners, billboards, back of the buses or trucks. They use many words. Try to identify the morphological process that happens to those words.

Derivational Vs. Inflectional Morpheme

As discussed in class, there are two types of morpheme: FREE morpheme, and BOUND morpheme. FREE morpheme is then further divided into two: LEXICAL and FUNCTIONAL morpheme. BOUND morpheme is also further divided into two categories: DERIVATIONAL and INFLECTIONAL morpheme.

DERIVATIONAL morpheme changes the root's class of words OR its meaning, OR BOTH. The word 'unhappy' derives from the root HAPPY added with a prefix UN. Both 'happy' and 'unhappy' are adjectives. The meaning, however, is totally different. "I am unhappy" is totally different from "I am happy". In this case, the prefix UN is called DERIVATIONAL MORPHEME.

INFLECTIONAL morpheme, on the other hand, does not change either the root's class of words or the meaning. The word 'books', for example, derives from the root BOOK added with a suffix –S. Both 'book' and 'books' are NOUN. The meaning is still the same. The suffix –S only indicates the plural form. In this case, the suffix –S is INFLECTIONAL

Well… For practice, please do the worksheet here.

Mid Semester Test

Hi folks,

I change my mind. Since some of you can not do sit-in live test (because of the time-table), I decide to give you a take-away assignment. You have to write an essay. What is the essay about? Find out here.

Thanks.

Morphology

Hi there,

This week we are discussing morphology. I believe you have do the readings I've recommended. To get some more, please visit the following sites. They are helpful.
1. http://www.tlumaczenia-angielski.info/linguistics/morphology.htm
2. http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~ling354/morphology.html

See you soon in a lively discussion.

Reminder: Make-up Quiz

This is to remind the students of the Tuesday afternoon class: we are having the make-up quiz on Tuesday, 21 Oct, from 2.30 pm. This is your last chance to get better mark, although IT IS NOT A MUST. If you think that you have some other more important things to do, it's fine. I'll take the result of the previous quiz.

Thanks.

Stop Vs Affricative Sound

A stop sound is pronounced with a sudden release of breath. In other words, it is produced by stopping air at some point and suddenly releasing it

Affricative sound is a composite speech sound consisting of a stop and a fricative articulated at the same point (as `ch' in `chair' and `j' in `joy').

The following are the explanations from Answers.com

plosive
(plō′siv)
n

Any speech sound made by impounding the airstream for a moment until considerable pressure has been developed and then suddenly releasing it (e.g., b, d, and g). One of two types of stop consonants, the other being affricative (e.g., ch).


affricative

(əfrik′ətiv)
n

A fricative speech sound initiated by a plosive.

One of you got 100 for Quiz 1

Congratulations...

I'm talking about the Tuesday 2.30 class at Room 204 (Bldg 4).

Yes... One of you answered all the questions correctly. I'm really proud of you. This shows me that you've learned hard, and you are really English Department student. Some of you got 90, some 80, some 70.

However, I'm quite surprised to see that only few of you understand the materials. Many of you did not answer even one question.

We have been doing the discussion. So far, no one seems to have a problem.
We have been utilizing this blog as a channel for discussion. Few of you, however, make use of this.

Well, I will let you have the make-up quiz. This is ONLY for THOSE WHO HAVE READ & LEARNED the materials. If you don't feel that you belong to this group, please think again before you come to our class. I mean, if you don't change your way of learning, you don't have to continue taking this course.

The make-up test will be given on Tuesday, Oct 21, starting at 2.30.
Read all the materials I've recommended, NOT ONLY the presentation handouts. You need to read the books.

Those who have got good marks are Mahardika, Sartika Dhian, Mega Asmara, and Dhian Widhi. These students do not need to do the make-up test.

Well, get prepared.

Depe