Introduction to Affixation and Lexical Constituents

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Questions and Answers

What is the term for a sequence of initial letters of the constituent words that are pronounced as a single word?

Initialism

Acronym (correct)

Blend

Clipping

What is the term for a denomination based on a proper name?

Eponym (correct)

Compound

Blendword

Abbreviation

What type of compound word is 'bloodstream'?

Blended

Hyphenated

Open

Solid (correct)

What is the term for a reduction of a longer form, removing parts of the end of the word?

Clipping Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for combining parts of two words, usually the first part of one word with the second part of another?

Blending Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the combination of lexemes into larger words?

Compounding Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a prefix related to computer, information, technology, virtual reality, or cyberspace?

Cyber- Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the minimal linguistic unit with a lexical or a grammatical meaning?

Morpheme Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of assigning a new meaning to an existing word?

Semantic redermination Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a word that is derived from a base word with a prefix or a suffix?

Derivative Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a lexical morpheme?

The base bas(E) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a word that is formed by combining two or more bases?

Compound Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of adding a prefix or a suffix to a base word?

Affixation Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a word that is borrowed from another language?

Loanword Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of changing a word's grammatical category?

Conversion Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a grammatical unit that denotes plural, tense, or syntactic relations?

Grammatical morpheme Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe a morpheme that is not only a prefix or suffix, but has a semantic content of its own?

Affixoid Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between compounds and words created by affixoids?

Compounds involve two lexemes, while affixoids involve a lexeme and an affix Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following prefixes is used to indicate 'below' or 'lower than normal'?

Hypo- Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for an inflammatory disease, as indicated by the suffix?

-itis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a prefixoid?

Self- Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a science or discipline, as indicated by the suffix?

-logy Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe a non-lexemic morpheme, such as a prefix or suffix?

Affix Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a bound morpheme that attaches to bases?

Affix Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following prefixes is productive in both non-specialized and specialized language, indicating a lack of something?

a- Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a word that is obtained by attaching one or more affixes to a base?

Derivative Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following suffixes is used to form a de-verbal noun, indicating a person who performs an action?

-er Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a process of forming new words by attaching one or more affixes to a base?

Affixation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following types of affixes is inserted within the base itself?

Infix Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a word that is obtained by combining a loanword and a loan translation?

Loanblend Signup and view all the answers

The background in a news article typically covers events subsequent to the main action.

False Signup and view all the answers

The commentary in a news article provides observations on the action and cites experts' declarations or institutional statements.

True Signup and view all the answers

In a research paper, the information is typically re-distributed according to a linear structure.

False Signup and view all the answers

The news release provides a detailed version of the findings set forth in the original paper.

False Signup and view all the answers

The method section of the original article is typically included in the news release.

False Signup and view all the answers

The popularizing texts are entirely based on the original article.

False Signup and view all the answers

The original text is primarily descriptive and informative.

False Signup and view all the answers

Devitt's genre set refers to the total genre network that a particular individual engages.

False Signup and view all the answers

The news article in The Guardian uses technical language to report the discovery.

False Signup and view all the answers

Research articles are mainly published in online journals.

False Signup and view all the answers

The web text has a linear structure, unlike news articles.

False Signup and view all the answers

The press release only reports the views and contentions of the researchers.

False Signup and view all the answers

Macrostructures are located at a lower level of generalization compared to moves.

False Signup and view all the answers

The news article in The Guardian summarizes the main points of the press release.

False Signup and view all the answers

The 'experimental research scholarly paper' has a simple conventional schema.

False Signup and view all the answers

The popularization process involves a change from an informative to an argumentative focus.

False Signup and view all the answers

Genre repertoire refers to all the genres that are available to a particular individual.

False Signup and view all the answers

All argumentative texts have a ternary structure, consisting of Premises, Conclusion, and Evidence.

False Signup and view all the answers

The prefix 'h(a)emo-' is used to indicate 'good' or 'well'.

False Signup and view all the answers

The suffix '-phagia' is used to form a noun indicating a process or style of writing, drawing, or graphic representation.

False Signup and view all the answers

The prefix 'auto-' is used to indicate 'above' or 'higher than normal'.

False Signup and view all the answers

The suffix '-logy' is used to form a noun indicating a type of disease.

False Signup and view all the answers

The prefix 'eu-' is used to indicate 'below' or 'lower than normal'.

False Signup and view all the answers

The suffix '-ase' is used to form a noun indicating a type of tumour.

False Signup and view all the answers

Journalists typically focus on the most crucial aspects of the original paper when popularizing it.

False Signup and view all the answers

The popularization of scientific knowledge is a neutral process that doesn't involve any bias.

False Signup and view all the answers

The internet has made the dissemination of specialist knowledge more timely and systematic.

True Signup and view all the answers

The original paper and the news release have the same structure and content.

False Signup and view all the answers

The scope of popularized texts is limited to the most scientifically relevant aspects of the original paper.

False Signup and view all the answers

The news release provides a concise version of the findings set forth in the original paper.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of abbreviations in specialized communication?

To achieve economy and concision Signup and view all the answers

Clippings are reductions of longer forms, removing parts of the beginning of the word.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a combination of lexemes into larger words?

Compounding Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of popularizing scientific and technological concepts?

To make the concepts more understandable and accessible to a general audience Signup and view all the answers

The prefix '-cyber' is related to ______________, information, technology, virtual reality, or cyberspace.

computer Signup and view all the answers

Popular science texts often use technical words and jargon to explain complex concepts.

False Signup and view all the answers

Match the following types of non-transparent lexical items with their descriptions:

Eponyms = Denominations based on a proper name Abbreviations = Combinations of lexemes into larger words Compounds = Reductions of longer forms, removing parts of the word Blends = Denominations derived from a proper name Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a hyphenated compound word?

Flash-guard Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using conversational words in popular science texts?

To reassure the reader Signup and view all the answers

The main discursive technique used in popularization discourse is ____________________.

explanation Signup and view all the answers

Match the following popularization techniques with their descriptions:

Denomination = Introducing new objects, events, or terms with specialized denominations Definition = Conceptual delimitation of a term by means of a brief description Explanation = Breaking down complex concepts into simpler terms Signup and view all the answers

Popular science texts often have a more argumentative approach than research papers.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of web-mediated communication?

Interactivity options Signup and view all the answers

Wikipedia features commercial ads.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the founders of Wikipedia?

Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger Signup and view all the answers

Wikipedia is a multilingual web-based encyclopedia created and maintained as an open collaboration by a community of volunteer editors using a ________ editing system.

wiki-based Signup and view all the answers

Match the following characteristics of Wikipedia with their descriptions:

Wikipedia is a multilingual web-based encyclopedia = Description Wikipedia has 294 language versions = Feature Wikipedia features exclusively free content and no commercial ads = Characteristic Wikipedia is the largest and most popular general reference work on the World Wide Web = Description Signup and view all the answers

What is Wikipedia's role in the transmission of information?

It allows non-experts to interactively contribute Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical basic structure of a scientific research paper?

Introduction - Problem - Solution - Conclusion Signup and view all the answers

Research articles in Italian typically have a brief summary of the contents.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the four-move structure of a typical article introduction?

Establishing field, Summarizing previous research, Preparing for present research, Introducing present research Signup and view all the answers

The IMRAD pattern is commonly used in the _______________________ field.

medical Signup and view all the answers

Match the following fields of study with their typical research paper structures:

Social sciences = Introduction - Theory - Problem - Experiment - Comment - Conclusions Medical field = Introduction - Methods - Results - Discussion Economics = Analysis - Proposal - Prediction Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of nominalization on the syntactic structure of a sentence?

It increases the lexical and semantic density of the text Signup and view all the answers

Nominalization always requires indicating the subject of a given action.

False Signup and view all the answers

What does Halliday consider nominalizations to be?

a grammatical metaphor Signup and view all the answers

The use of nominalizations can lead to a _______________ of the explicit illocutionary commitment.

reduction Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their descriptions:

Nominalization = A process of forming new words by attaching one or more affixes to a base. Hedging strategy = A process of reducing the strength of an utterance. Grammatical metaphor = A process of re-construing processes as nouns. Signup and view all the answers

The translation of nominal constructions in scientific and technical translation does not deserve special attention.

False Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Affixation and Lexical Constituents

Affixation is a derivational process where one or more affixes are attached to a base to form a new word.
Affixes can be classified into three types: prefixes, suffixes, and infixes.
Prefixes are attached to the beginning of a base, suffixes follow the base, and infixes are inserted within the base.
Examples of prefixes: h(a)emo- (related to blood), hypo- (below, lower than normal), hyper- (above, higher than normal), eu- (well, good), thermo- (heat), auto- (self, same).
Examples of suffixes: -itis (inflammatory disease), -oma (tumour), -ase (enzyme), -ide (chloride), -ite (hypochlorite).

Affixoids and Compounding

Affixoids are hybrid elements that have a semantic content of their own and are used to create new words similar to compounds.
Compounding is the combination of lexemes into larger words, which can be solid (bloodstream), hyphenated (flash-guard), or open (blood stream).
Compounds can be nouns (heartbeat), adjectives (lead-free), or verbs (to brainwash).
Examples of prefixoids: psich- (concerning the psyche), pseudo- (false), self- (oneself, itself), cyclo- (occurring in a circle).
Examples of suffixoids: -phagia (eating), -logy (science, discipline), -pathy (disease), -form (having the form of).

Non-Transparent Lexical Items

Eponyms are denominations derived from proper names and can be created through conversion, derivation, or noun groups.
Abbreviations can be initialisms (HIV), acronyms (laser), clippings (ad for advertisement), or blends (stagnation + inflation = stagflation).
Compounding is common in English due to its prestige and prevalent use as a lingua franca.

Mechanisms of Word Formation

Word formation is a branch of linguistics that studies the patterns of creating new lexical units.
Morphemes are the minimal linguistic units with a lexical or grammatical meaning.
Lexical morphemes can combine with each other to produce new lexemes.
The main mechanisms of word formation are:
- Semantic redetermination (attribution of a new meaning to an existing word)
- Conversion (assigning a base to a different word class)
- Affixation (adding a prefix or suffix to a base)
- Borrowing from foreign languages (generating loanwords and loan translations or calques)
- Compounding (adding a base to another base)

Affixes and Affixoids

The suffix -ism is added to nouns or adjectives to obtain an abstract noun (e.g., chimerism, liberalism).
The suffix -ation is added to a verb to obtain an abstract or collective noun (e.g., globalization, organization).
Lexical constituents derived from Latin and Greek are frequently used.
Prefixes:
- h(a)emo- means "having to do with blood" (e.g., hematology).
- hypo- means "below" or "lower than normal" (e.g., hypoglycemia).
- hyper- means "above" or "higher than normal" (e.g., hyperbaric, hyperglycemia).
- eu- means "well" or "good" (e.g., euthanasia).
- thermo- means "heat" (e.g., thermocouple, thermoelectric).
- auto- means "self" or "same" (e.g., autointoxication).
Suffixes:
- -itis means "inflammatory disease" (e.g., bronchitis).
- -oma means "tumor" (e.g., melanoma).
- -ase means "enzyme" (e.g., lactase).
- -ide means "chloride" (e.g., chloruro).
- -ite means "hypochlorite" (e.g., iposolfito).
Affixoids:
- psich- means "concerning the psyche" (e.g., psychology).
- pseudo- means "false" or "pretend" (e.g., pseudoconcept).
- self- means "oneself" or "itself" (e.g., self-blocking, self-immune).
- cyclo- means "occurring in a circle" (e.g., cyclomorphosis).
- -phagia means "eating" (e.g., aerophagia).
- -logy means "science" or "discipline" (e.g., gerontology, paleontology).
- -pathy means "disease" (e.g., gastropathy).
- -form means "having the form of" (e.g., fusiform).
- -graphy means "process or style of writing, drawing, or graphic representation" (e.g., astrography, cryptography).

Genres and Genre Systems

Genres should not be seen in isolation, but rather in interaction with other genres.
Devitt introduces the concept of genre sets, which are part of the total genre network that an individual engages.
Bazerman introduces the notion of genre systems, which include genre sets, genre chains, genre hierarchies, and genre networks.
Devitt also introduces the concept of genre repertoire, which refers to all the genres available to a professional group.

Research Articles and Popularization

Research articles are the main vehicle for disseminating specialist knowledge within and across disciplinary communities.
Research articles are published in specialized journals and have a complex conventional schema.
The macrostructure of research articles consists of premises and conclusions.
Research articles have a binary structure, with a focus on argumentation.
Popularization involves a change in register and purpose, with a focus on informing rather than arguing.

Case Study: From Specialist Knowledge to Popularization

The original research article is published in Nature.
The news release provides a simplified version of the findings, with quotations and a focus on the backstory.
The news article in The Guardian uses everyday language, similes, and metaphors, with a focus on the significance of the research.
The web text on Science Alert has an inverted-pyramid structure, with a focus on spreading news and using evaluative language.

General Considerations and Wikipedia

The process of popularization involves a biased selection of information, with a focus on aspects that interest the general public.
Journalists try to make the information as newsworthy as possible.
The internet plays a crucial role in disseminating specialist knowledge, favoring a more systematic and timely circulation of scientific and technological information.
Wikipedia is an important platform for disseminating specialist knowledge.

New Prefixoids and Suffixoids

The prefix "-cyber" relates to computers, information, technology, virtual reality, and cyberspace.

Non-Transparent Lexical Items

Eponyms are denominations based on proper names, created through conversion, derivation, or noun groups (e.g. ampère, watt, Pythagorean theorem).
Abbreviations include initialisms (HIV, human immunodeficiency virus) and acronyms (laser, light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation).
Clippings reduce longer forms, removing parts of the beginning or end of the word (e.g. ad for advertisement, plane for airplane).
Blends combine parts of two words (e.g. stagflation, smoke + fog = smog).

Compounding

Compounds combine two or more bases or stems into a single word.
Compounds can be solid (bloodstream), hyphenated (flash-guard), or open (blood stream).
Compounds can be nouns (heartbeat), adjectives (lead-free), or verbs (brainwash, fireproof).

Nominalization

Nominalization transforms verbs into nouns, making them entities rather than actions.
This syntactic choice contributes to objectivity and universality in scientific texts.
Nominalization reduces explicit illocutionary commitment, making the utterance less assertive.

Translation of Nominal Constructions

In scientific and technical translation, nominalization requires special attention.
Nominalizations function as grammatical metaphors, re-construing processes as nouns.

Research Article Structure

The typical structure of a scientific research paper is Introduction - Problem - Solution - Conclusion.
Variations of this sequence exist, such as the IMRAD pattern (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion).
Research article introductions typically follow a four-move structure: Establishing field, Summarizing previous research, Preparing for present research, and Introducing present research.

Popularization of Science

Popular science texts are more expositive than argumentative, with lower frequencies of metadiscourse markers.
Popularization techniques include denomination, definition, and explanation.
Web-mediated communication offers interactivity options, allowing users to participate and contribute to the transmission of information.
Wikipedia is a notable example of collaborative writing and user-generated content.

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Learn about affixation, a derivational process in linguistics, including types of affixes such as prefixes, suffixes, and infixes. Understand how they are attached to a base to form new words.

Introduction to Affixation and Lexical Constituents

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Questions and Answers

What is the term for a sequence of initial letters of the constituent words that are pronounced as a single word?

What is the term for a denomination based on a proper name?

What type of compound word is 'bloodstream'?

What is the term for a reduction of a longer form, removing parts of the end of the word?

What is the term for combining parts of two words, usually the first part of one word with the second part of another?

What is the term for the combination of lexemes into larger words?

What is the term for a prefix related to computer, information, technology, virtual reality, or cyberspace?

What is the term for the minimal linguistic unit with a lexical or a grammatical meaning?

What is the process of assigning a new meaning to an existing word?

What is the term for a word that is derived from a base word with a prefix or a suffix?

Which of the following is an example of a lexical morpheme?

What is the term for a word that is formed by combining two or more bases?

What is the term for the process of adding a prefix or a suffix to a base word?

What is the term for a word that is borrowed from another language?

What is the term for the process of changing a word's grammatical category?

What is the term for a grammatical unit that denotes plural, tense, or syntactic relations?

What is the term used to describe a morpheme that is not only a prefix or suffix, but has a semantic content of its own?

What is the difference between compounds and words created by affixoids?

Which of the following prefixes is used to indicate 'below' or 'lower than normal'?

What is the term for an inflammatory disease, as indicated by the suffix?

Which of the following is an example of a prefixoid?

What is the term for a science or discipline, as indicated by the suffix?

What is the term used to describe a non-lexemic morpheme, such as a prefix or suffix?

What is the term for a bound morpheme that attaches to bases?

Which of the following prefixes is productive in both non-specialized and specialized language, indicating a lack of something?

What is the term for a word that is obtained by attaching one or more affixes to a base?

Which of the following suffixes is used to form a de-verbal noun, indicating a person who performs an action?

What is the term for a process of forming new words by attaching one or more affixes to a base?

Which of the following types of affixes is inserted within the base itself?

What is the term for a word that is obtained by combining a loanword and a loan translation?

The background in a news article typically covers events subsequent to the main action.

The commentary in a news article provides observations on the action and cites experts' declarations or institutional statements.

In a research paper, the information is typically re-distributed according to a linear structure.

The news release provides a detailed version of the findings set forth in the original paper.

The method section of the original article is typically included in the news release.

The popularizing texts are entirely based on the original article.

The original text is primarily descriptive and informative.

Devitt's genre set refers to the total genre network that a particular individual engages.

The news article in The Guardian uses technical language to report the discovery.

Research articles are mainly published in online journals.

The web text has a linear structure, unlike news articles.

The press release only reports the views and contentions of the researchers.

Macrostructures are located at a lower level of generalization compared to moves.

The news article in The Guardian summarizes the main points of the press release.

The 'experimental research scholarly paper' has a simple conventional schema.

The popularization process involves a change from an informative to an argumentative focus.

Genre repertoire refers to all the genres that are available to a particular individual.

All argumentative texts have a ternary structure, consisting of Premises, Conclusion, and Evidence.

The prefix 'h(a)emo-' is used to indicate 'good' or 'well'.

The suffix '-phagia' is used to form a noun indicating a process or style of writing, drawing, or graphic representation.

The prefix 'auto-' is used to indicate 'above' or 'higher than normal'.

The suffix '-logy' is used to form a noun indicating a type of disease.

The prefix 'eu-' is used to indicate 'below' or 'lower than normal'.

The suffix '-ase' is used to form a noun indicating a type of tumour.

Journalists typically focus on the most crucial aspects of the original paper when popularizing it.

The popularization of scientific knowledge is a neutral process that doesn't involve any bias.

The internet has made the dissemination of specialist knowledge more timely and systematic.

The original paper and the news release have the same structure and content.

The scope of popularized texts is limited to the most scientifically relevant aspects of the original paper.

The news release provides a concise version of the findings set forth in the original paper.

What is the purpose of abbreviations in specialized communication?

Clippings are reductions of longer forms, removing parts of the beginning of the word.

What is the term for a combination of lexemes into larger words?

What is the primary goal of popularizing scientific and technological concepts?

The prefix '-cyber' is related to ______________, information, technology, virtual reality, or cyberspace.

Popular science texts often use technical words and jargon to explain complex concepts.

Match the following types of non-transparent lexical items with their descriptions:

Which of the following is an example of a hyphenated compound word?

What is the purpose of using conversational words in popular science texts?

The main discursive technique used in popularization discourse is ____________________.

Match the following popularization techniques with their descriptions:

Popular science texts often have a more argumentative approach than research papers.

What is a characteristic of web-mediated communication?

Wikipedia features commercial ads.

What is the name of the founders of Wikipedia?

Wikipedia is a multilingual web-based encyclopedia created and maintained as an open collaboration by a community of volunteer editors using a ________ editing system.