Chapter 4: Morphology

Morphology

The study of the structure and classification of words

Synthetic language

Relies primarily on word endings to convey grammar. Ex) Latin

Analytic language

Relies primarily on word order. Ex) Mandarin, English

Free morpheme

Can stand alone. Ex) Dog, house.

Bound morpheme

Cannot stand alone. Ex) -s, -es, dis-, re-

Inflectional morpheme

Changes the past-tense/ grammar of a word. Ex) notice→noticed, sentence→sentences

Derivational morpheme

Changes the meaning of a word. Ex) eat→ eating, governmentally

Borrowing

Taking a word from another language (Taco, burrito, bomboclatt)

Shifting

Changing the function of a word and using it as a noun/verb. Ex) googling/ googled

Blending

Taking two words to make one word. Ex) chillaxing: chill+relaxing. Brunch: breakfast+lunch