PPG TESL 1 (PS) INTAKE JUNE 2011 INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS (TSL3101)

GROUP TUTORIAL TASK

WORD STRUCTURE & DIFFERENT WORD FORMATION PROCESSES

GROUP MEMBERS

SITI FATIMAH ANWAR NOOR AZNAH TAIB ARINI IBRAHIM

(791117-02-5126) (820129-09-5084) (821204-07-5484)

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TESL (A) MISS YEOH PHAIK KIN

DATE OF SUBMISSION : 20TH AUGUST 2011

The Structure of Words: Morphology Fundamental concepts in how words are composed out of smaller parts The nature of these parts The nature of the rules that combine these parts into larger units What it might mean to be a word

Internal structure of words Words have an internal structure that requires analysis into constituents (much like syntactic structure does) For example: Unusable contains three pieces: un-, use, -able Question: If we are thinking about the procedures for building words, is the order - derive use-able, then add un-; or - derive un-use, then add able Word Structure Possibilities: Structure 1 Structure 2

un use able

un use able

Consider: With able, we create adjectives meaning capable of being V-ed, from verbs V Break/break-able; kick/kick-able

There is no verb un-use This is an argument that Structure 1 is correct: [un [use able]

This analysis fits well with what the word means as well: not capable of being used. Structure two would mean some thing like capable of not being used

Another example Consider another word (from the first class): unlockable. Focus on un-

Note that in addition to applying to adjectives (clear/unclear) to give a contrary meaning, un- applies to some verbs to give a kind of undoing or reversing meaning: do, undo zip, unzip tie, untie

Note now that unlockable has two meanings The Unlockable example

Two meanings: 1) Not capable of being locked 2) Capable of being unlocked These meanings correspond to distinct structures:

1)

2)

un lock

able

un lock able

The second structure is one in which able applies to the verb unlock This verb is itself created from un- and lock The meaning goes with this: capable of being unlocked In structure 1, there is no verb unlock So the meaning is not capable of being locked

Internal structure Like with other complex words, the internal structure of compounds is crucial There are cases of ambiguities like that with unlockable Example: obscure document shredder 1) Person who shreds obscure documents [[obscure document] shredder] 2) Obscure person who shreds documents [obscure [document shredder]]

Word Formation Processes Affixation Process of forming words by adding affixes to morphemes Prefixation : re + apply re-apply Suffixation : constitution + al constitutional constitutional + ly constitutionally Infixation : insertion of an affix within the root morphemes. Infixation example from Tagalog, a language of the Philippines Verb stem Sulat Bili Kuha Infinitive sumulat bumili kumuha to write to buy to take, to get write buy take, get

Pseudo-infixation in English English doesnt have true infixation English does have something similar in a limited sphere. Expletives can be inserted inside a word for emphasis - un-fucking-believable - abso-bloody-lutely (from My Fair Lady) - Halle- fucking-lullah (Sopranos episode)

Reduplication Process of forming new words by doubling all or part of a morpheme. Example from Indonesian Singular rumah ibu lalat Plural rumah-rumah ibu-ibu lalat-lalat houses mothers flies house mother flies

Alternation Process of forming a word using morpheme-internal modifications Example from English : vowel changes in formation of some plurals Man / men, woman / women, goose / geese

Compounding Process of joining two separate words to produce a single word E.g. ; fingerprint, bookcase, sunburn, wallpaper, doorknob, textbook, wastebasket, waterbed

Clipping Backformation Reduction of a word of one lexical category (usually a noun) to a word of another lexical category (usually a verb) Examples: Emotion Editor Donation emote edit donate

Enthusiasm

enthuse

Blending Process of combining two separate forms to produce a single new term Typically the beginning of one word is joined to the end of the other word E.g., Smog (smoke + fog) Brunch (breakfast + lunch) Motel (motor + hotel) Telecast (television + broadcast)

Acronyms Words formed from the initial letters of a set of other words Examples NATO : North Atlantic Treaty Organization NASA : National Aeronautics and Space Administration Laser : Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation Radar : radio detecting and ranging Scuba : self contained underwater breathing apparatus

Coinage The invention of totally new terms Examples: aspirin,nylon, kleenex, xerox Originally invented trade names Now everyday words

Borrowing Process of taking over words from other languages

Loan words English example: Alcohol (Arabic) Boss (Dutch) Croissant (French) Lilac (Persian) Pretzel (German) - Robot (Czech) - Tycoon (Japanese) - Yogurt (Turkish) - Piano (Italian) - Zebra (Bantu)

Loan words from English into other languages Japanese suupaamaaketo (supermarket) Hungarian sport and futbal (sport and football) French le parking , le weekend (parking, weekend)

Calque

Loan translation Direct translation of the elements of a words into borrowing language Examples : French (gratte-ciel : scrape-sky) from English skyscraper English loan word from German Lehnwort