词汇学第05讲.pptVIP

Lecture V Word Formation (2) Different ways of word formation We are going to discuss 8 ways of word formation, namely, affixation, compounding, conversion, clipping, blending, shortening, back-formation, and proper names. The acceptability of derivative words A rule of word-formation usually differs from a syntactic rule. Not all the words that are produced by applying the rule are acceptable. Teach+er?teacher Learn+er?learner But we can’t get “studier” from study. Productivity of the word-formation rules: Some of the word-formation rules are very productive now, some used to be very productive in the past but no longer in common use now. Example: housewife husband wide?width, etc. 5.1 Affixation Affixation is defined as the formation of words by adding derivational affixes to stems. This process is also known as derivation. The words formed in this way are called derivatives Prefixation and suffixation Affixation falls into two subclasses: prefixation and suffixation. Prefixation is the formation of new words by adding prefixes to stems. Suffixation is the formation of new words by adding suffixes to stems 5.1.1 Prefixation Prefixation is the formation of new words by adding prefixes to stems. This process do not generally change the word-class of the stem but only modify its meaning. However, there are more and more class-changing prefixes at present. Class-changing prefixes: Asleep= a- +sleep Encourage=en- +courage Unearth=un-+earth Postwar=post-+war These make up only an insignificant number. Non-class-changing prefixes The chief function of the majority of prefix is to change meanings of the stems. Accordingly we shall classify them on a semantic basis into nine groups 1. Negative prefixes: Negative prefixes have the meaning of “not”. This kind of prefixes include: a-, dis-, in-(il-, ir, im-), non-, un-, etc. Among them un- is by far the most productive and can usually replace in- or dis- with adjectives. 2. Reversative prefixes: Thi