新编简明语言学导论教程课件Chapter3.ppt

Chapter Three Morphology 1. What is word? A unit of expression that has universal intuitive recognition by native speakers, whether it is expressed in spoken or written form. – A vague definition. Three senses of word: Three senses are involved in defining “word”, none of which is satisfactory to cope with all the situations. A physically definable unit The common factor underlying a set of forms A grammatical unit A physically definable unit A physical unit: a cluster of sound segments or letters between two pauses or blanks, e.g.: Phonological: Orthographic: It is wonderful. Three words are recognized. However, in casual speech or writing, it often becomes: Phonological: Orthographic: It’s wonderful. Are they two words or three? General term and specific term A set of forms: walk, walks, walking, walked How many words are there? I usually have dinner at 6 but yesterday I had it at seven. How many times did the word “have” occur? Word may be used both as a general term and as specific items. In a general term: “have” and “had” are just one word. In a specific items: “have” and “had” are two words. A lexical item is an entry in a dictionary. A lexeme includes all of its grammatical forms: write, writes, writing, wrote, written A grammatical unit A grammatical unit: Word presents itself as a grammatical unit in a lexico-grammatical system. sentence clause phrase word morpheme Morphology The part of the grammar that is concerned with word formation and word structure. Lexicology Semantics Etymology Lexicography Variable vs. Invariable Words: Variable words: are those which can be changed to other forms with certain parts remain relatively constant. e.g.: write, writes, writing, wrote, written; cat, cats. Invariable words: refer to those which cannot be changed into other forms. e.g.:since, when, seldom, through, etc. Grammatical vs. Lexica