Introduction to English Morphology Chapter 2
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Questions and Answers

What does the idiom 'kick the bucket' mean?

  • To die (correct)
  • To take a break
  • To have a disagreement
  • To be resentful

How do idioms differ from phrases with restricted meanings?

  • Phrases are always nouns, while idioms can be verbs.
  • Phrases are usually shorter than idioms.
  • Idioms have predictable meanings, phrases do not.
  • Idioms often have meanings that differ from the literal interpretation, while phrases do not. (correct)

What is the meaning of the proverb 'A stitch in time saves nine'?

  • Working late is essential for success.
  • Time consumption can be minimized by avoiding tasks.
  • Acting promptly can prevent larger problems later. (correct)
  • Waiting leads to better outcomes.

What is an example of a phrase with restricted meanings?

<p>White noise (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of an idiom?

<p>To express a cultural or social idea through a metaphorical connotation. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following idioms indicates a disturbance or disruption?

<p>Raise Cain (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'red herring' commonly refer to?

<p>An irrelevant argument or distraction (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a proverb?

<p>It always has a direct literal meaning. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'keep tabs on' mean?

<p>To monitor closely (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term ‘dioecious’ referring to?

<p>Plants with separate male and female reproductive organs (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which best defines the term 'antirehabilitationist'?

<p>Someone opposed to rehabilitation efforts (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'un-Clintonish' imply in the context of electioneering tactics?

<p>Tactics unlike those of President Clinton (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why might a learner of English struggle with the phrase 'keep tabs on'?

<p>The meaning isn't derived from the individual words (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by words serving as 'building-blocks' of language?

<p>Words represent ideas and can stand alone. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence 'I keep notes on all my expenditure,' what does 'expenditure' refer to?

<p>Record of spending (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of words as types and tokens, which of the following accurately describes the difference?

<p>Types are the general concept of a word, and tokens are its specific occurrences. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do certain words have unpredictable meanings?

<p>They have meanings that vary based on context. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix '-ly' generally indicate when added to an adjective?

<p>In a certain way (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What might a learner incorrectly interpret the sentence 'I keep tabs on all my expenditure' to mean?

<p>I am overwhelmed by my expenses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following demonstrates the concept of a non-word with unpredictable meanings?

<p>The phrase 'cut to the chase'. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does a dictionary entry for a word benefit users?

<p>It explains the part of speech, pronunciation, and definition. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of one-word commands like 'Fire!' or 'Go!' in language?

<p>They showcase how words can create meaning without additional context. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a 'token' in a sentence?

<p>The word 'the' in 'The cat sat on the mat.' (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase exemplifies restricted meanings associated with words?

<p>The term 'break the ice' in a social context. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A sentence must always contain more than one word.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Words can have predictable meanings and must be listed in dictionaries.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence 'Mary goes to Edinburgh next week, and she intends going to Washington next month', there are fourteen distinct words.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A dictionary entry typically includes a word, its definition, and grammatical information.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The terms 'types' and 'tokens' refer to completely different concepts in linguistics.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Warning shouts like 'Fire!' are examples of using single words outside of any sentence context.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Words are not considered the basic building-blocks of language.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A one-word command can communicate meaning just as effectively as a multi-word sentence.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Words with predictable meanings can be understood solely based on their individual sounds.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'dioecious' refers to plants that have male and female flowers on the same plant.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Sound symbolism suggests a direct link between a word's sound and its meaning.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Onomatopoeic words are examples of sound symbolism where the sound reflects the meaning of the word.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The combination of recognizable parts in a word can help determine its overall meaning.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The association between most words and their meanings is inherently predictable across all languages.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Distinct dictionary entries for the same word in different copies of a dictionary represent different tokens of the same type.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The word 'dioeciously' remains widely known among most readers.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'dioecious' implies that male and female reproductive structures are found on the same plant.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'keep tabs on' is an idiom meaning to monitor or pay close attention to something.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A de-Yeltsinised government means it is influenced by Boris Yeltsin.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Native speakers of English may struggle to interpret the phrase 'keep tabs on' correctly.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Antirehabilitationist' denotes a belief in the importance of rehabilitation in judicial punishment.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Idioms often have meanings that can be predicted by understanding the individual words that comprise them.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The suffix '-ly' consistently indicates that something is done in a specific manner based on the corresponding adjective.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The sentence 'I keep notes on all my expenditure' presents a challenge for learners unfamiliar with the term 'expenditure'.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The idiom 'kick the bucket' means to create a disturbance.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Proverbs are traditional sayings whose meaning differs from the literal interpretation of the words.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'red herring' is used to refer to a relevant argument.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Keep tabs on' functions similarly to a noun.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'white wine' has a semantically predictable meaning based on the individual words.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Too many cooks spoil the broth means that having many people involved can hinder task completion.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

'A stitch in time saves nine' suggests that it is better to address problems promptly rather than later.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The meaning of 'white noise' is predictable based on the individual meanings of 'white' and 'noise'.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A sentence must not always consist of more than one _____.

<p>word</p> Signup and view all the answers

In linguistics, words can be categorized as types or _____.

<p>tokens</p> Signup and view all the answers

A dictionary entry includes a word, its definition, and grammatical _____.

<p>information</p> Signup and view all the answers

Words are considered the basic ____ of language.

<p>units</p> Signup and view all the answers

The word 'month' is an example of a word that is _____ in meaning.

<p>predictable</p> Signup and view all the answers

Warning shouts like 'Fire!' are examples of using single words outside any actual _____.

<p>sentence</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a sentence, repeated words may indicate that there are fewer distinct ____ than initially counted.

<p>words</p> Signup and view all the answers

Words with unpredictable meanings must be listed in _____.

<p>dictionaries</p> Signup and view all the answers

Words listed in dictionaries are, at one level, ______, not tokens.

<p>types</p> Signup and view all the answers

Onomatopoeic words are those whose sound reflects their ______.

<p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

Sound symbolism indicates a less direct relationship between sound and ______.

<p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

The word 'dioecious' describes plants that have male and female flowers on ______ plants.

<p>separate</p> Signup and view all the answers

A technical term for the situation where sound reflects a similarity in ______ is sound symbolism.

<p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

The combinations of identifiable parts in a word can help determine its overall ______.

<p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

In every language, the associations between most words and their meanings are purely ______.

<p>conventional</p> Signup and view all the answers

Examples of ______ words include 'bow-wow' and 'miaow', which mimic sounds of animal cries.

<p>onomatopoeic</p> Signup and view all the answers

A de-Yeltsinised government is one purged of the influence of ______.

<p>Boris Yeltsin</p> Signup and view all the answers

The meaning of the word ______ is clear, relating to a belief against rehabilitation in judicial systems.

<p>antirehabilitationist</p> Signup and view all the answers

In English, keep ______ on means to monitor or pay close attention to something.

<p>tabs</p> Signup and view all the answers

Sentences like 'I keep notes on all my ______' can be easily interpreted by learners familiar with the basic meanings of the words.

<p>expenditure</p> Signup and view all the answers

The suffix '-ly' indicates that something is done ______ based on the corresponding adjective.

<p>in a specific manner</p> Signup and view all the answers

It may be difficult for learners to understand the expression 'keep ______ on' due to its idiomatic nature.

<p>tabs</p> Signup and view all the answers

An ______ is a term that describes plants which have male and female flowers on separate plants.

<p>dioecious</p> Signup and view all the answers

Sentences with non-words can confuse learners because their meanings are not always ______ from the meanings of the individual words.

<p>predictable</p> Signup and view all the answers

An idiom meaning 'irrelevant argument' is referred to as a ______.

<p>red herring</p> Signup and view all the answers

A proverb is a traditional saying whose conventional interpretation differs from the ______ meaning of the words it contains.

<p>literal</p> Signup and view all the answers

The idiom 'kick the bucket' is commonly understood to mean ______.

<p>die</p> Signup and view all the answers

Phrases like 'white wine' and 'white coffee' demonstrate how individual words can have ______ meanings.

<p>restricted</p> Signup and view all the answers

The saying 'Too many cooks spoil the broth' means that too many people involved makes it harder to ______.

<p>complete</p> Signup and view all the answers

Many idioms behave more like ______ as they convey meanings that cannot be deduced from their individual words.

<p>nouns</p> Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'keep tabs on' behaves rather like a ______.

<p>verb</p> Signup and view all the answers

A phrase that indicates the nature of sound, such as 'white noise,' shows how words can be ______ in a given context.

<p>idiomatic</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly defines a free morpheme?

<p>A morpheme that can stand alone as a word. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a bound morpheme?

<p>A morpheme that must be attached to a free morpheme. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes a compound word?

<p>A word formed from two or more morphemes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes cranberry morphemes?

<p>They are bound roots found in only one specific complex word. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following words contains a cranberry morpheme?

<p>Cranberry (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does a root morpheme play in word formation?

<p>It serves as the central part of a word contributing the core meaning. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which example demonstrates a bound morpheme acting as a prefix?

<p>The prefix un- in unkind. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for having multiple allomorphs for the plural morpheme '-s'?

<p>They depend on the phonetic context of the root word. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes an affix in morphology?

<p>An affix is a bound morpheme added to a root to create new words. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the example 'helpfulness', which morpheme is the free morpheme?

<p>help (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about affixes is true?

<p>Prefixes and suffixes are types of bound morphemes. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following provides an example of a word with one bound root and one free root?

<p>Microfilm. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following morphemes is considered a bound morpheme?

<p>-ing (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining feature of allomorphs?

<p>They can exhibit different pronunciations based on context. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these pairs features all bound morphemes?

<p>leg-, -ible (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which morpheme combination would result in a word with two bound roots?

<p>Electroscopy. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which option best describes a free morpheme?

<p>A morpheme that can stand alone as a word (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a bound morpheme from a free morpheme?

<p>Bound morphemes require attachment to a lexical item. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>Morpheme 'cran' in cranberry (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which option describes the role of affixes in morphology?

<p>They create new words by combining with roots. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines morpheme allomorphs?

<p>They are different forms of a morpheme that convey the same meaning. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a bound morpheme?

<p>-ness (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Identify a characteristic of morphemes in complex words.

<p>Each morpheme contributes to the overall meaning. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to morphemes that do not have a semantic meaning when standing alone?

<p>Bound morphemes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the study of the structure of words?

<p>Morphology (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Morphemes can only consist of a single letter.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of a complex word that contains multiple morphemes.

<p>Helpfulness</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Greek word ‘morphe’ means __________.

<p>shape or structure</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following examples to their corresponding morpheme characteristics:

<p>Help = Lexical morpheme -ful = Derivational morpheme -ness = Derivational morpheme s = Inflectional morpheme</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about morphemes is true?

<p>Some words can be formed from a single morpheme. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A collection of morphemes that convey a complete meaning and cannot be decomposed is known as a __________.

<p>lexical item</p> Signup and view all the answers

Idioms are considered simple morphemes.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term is used for the non-root morphemes that precede the root of a word?

<p>Prefixes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

All morphemes in English can exist as free morphemes.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a compound word?

<p>bookcase</p> Signup and view all the answers

The vowel sound in the prefix 're-' can be pronounced as ______ when it means 'again' in words like 'rewrite'.

<p>ri</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following examples to their respective categories of morphemes:

<p>bookcase = Compound word electrolysis = Bound root word rewrite = Free root with prefix -able = Suffix</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of allomorph for the plural suffix '-s'?

<p>[ed] (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The English language has more prefixes than suffixes.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do we call morphemes that can stand alone as words?

<p>Free morphemes</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the ability of human speech to be analyzable into meaningful and meaningless units?

<p>Duality of patterning (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Bound morphemes can stand alone as single words.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of morpheme can stand by itself as a word?

<p>Free morpheme</p> Signup and view all the answers

The morphemes associated with the words 'legible' and 'audience' are both __________ morphemes.

<p>bound</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following examples with their type of morpheme:

<p>help = Free morpheme -ness = Bound morpheme -ful = Bound morpheme dark = Free morpheme</p> Signup and view all the answers

Morphemes like 'cran-' and 'huckle-' in 'cranberry' and 'huckleberry' are examples of __________ morphemes.

<p>bound</p> Signup and view all the answers

All English vocabulary comes from the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the regular method for forming plurals in English nouns?

<p>Adding the suffix -s (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following words has an irregular plural form?

<p>Tooth (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the past tense of the verb 'go'?

<p>Went (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In English, what typically distinguishes singular and plural forms of nouns?

<p>The addition of a morpheme (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which suffix is commonly used for creating irregular plural forms from nouns borrowed from Latin or Greek?

<p>-i (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes suppletion from allomorphy?

<p>It involves distinct roots related to the same lexeme (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following exemplifies a noun lexeme with both singular and plural forms?

<p>Child and children (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which grammatical structure refers to a group of words centered around a noun?

<p>Noun phrase (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pronouns indicates the nominative case?

<p>he (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural determinative form of 'that'?

<p>those (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which pair of terms represents the possessive forms of pronouns?

<p>I - mine (A), they - their (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which grammatical class does 'without' belong to?

<p>Preposition (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In terms of noun phrases, what grammatical effect do number contrasts demonstrate?

<p>They influence noun forms and verb agreements. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following forms is NOT a determiner?

<p>do (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which pronouns exhibit a form of suppletion between their nominative and accusative forms?

<p>she and her (C), he and him (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which determiner demonstrates a singular-plural contrast similar to 'this'?

<p>that (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the reason that the possessive form does not count as an inflected form of the noun?

<p>It does not attach to a noun root but to a noun phrase. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes zero plurals in English?

<p>They take the same form in both singular and plural. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence 'Two deer were visible through the trees', what indicates that 'deer' is plural?

<p>The numeral 'two'. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following examples involves a noun that exists only in its plural form?

<p>Scissors (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What grammatical distinction is primarily expressed morphologically in English nouns?

<p>Singular-plural distinction (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence 'That man’s bicycle', what syntactic unit does the possessive form attach to?

<p>The entire noun phrase. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding countable nouns that change form to express their plurals?

<p>They commonly involve a vowel change. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can one differentiate between singular and plural nouns in a sentence?

<p>By syntactic context. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which suffix indicates a property of being derived from an adjective?

<p>-ity (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of nouns formed by the suffix '-ess'?

<p>They relate to the female form of a noun. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Verbs can be derived from which of the following word classes?

<p>Nouns and adjectives (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which adverb is an example of a morphologically complex adverb that does not contain '-ly'?

<p>Today (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'un-' generally signify when added to an adjective?

<p>It indicates the opposite or negation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which suffix would you use to derive a noun indicating a devotee of a particular subject?

<p>-ian (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a noun derived from a verb?

<p>Driver (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which adjectival form indicates a property of being through affixation?

<p>Intangible (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the process where a lexeme changes from one class to another without a physical change in form?

<p>Conversion (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the examples provided, what grammatical transformation occurs to form nouns from the verbs stated in the sentences?

<p>Zero-derivation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pairs represents ambivalent noun-verb vocabulary?

<p>HOPE and FEAR (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of adjectives when they are converted into adverbs?

<p>They often adopt the suffix '-ly'. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the verbs HOPE and FEAR is true?

<p>They possess both transitive and intransitive forms. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which example illustrates a verb form that has been inflected?

<p>RESSEMBLED (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of suffix is used in the formation of the word 'performance' from 'perform'?

<p>Derivational (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a verb and its various forms?

<p>Create, creates, creating, created (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the noun phrases derived from verb forms, what is typically added to indicate the noun form?

<p>A suffix (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a lexical item in linguistics?

<p>It requires dictionary listing for its meaning. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following choices best describes the relationship between 'perform' and 'performance'?

<p>They are derived from different lexemes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of derivational morphology?

<p>Exploring grammatical relationships without inflection. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct word class classification of the word 'performance'?

<p>Noun (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which base correctly represents a word that can take on a bound affix?

<p>Wive- (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the process of affixation?

<p>It can create either inflected forms or new lexemes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a grammatical feature to consider when classifying word forms?

<p>Semantic meaning (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The word 'performance' is a variant of the lexeme 'perform'.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Derivation involves the creation of new lexemes through affixation.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The suffix '-ance' is considered an inflectional suffix.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Both 'perform' and 'performance' belong to the same word class.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The base for an affixation process can be a root or a partially complete word form.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

There are only two forms of the lexeme PERFORMANCE.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Derivational morphology deals with relationships between word forms rather than between lexemes.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'affix' refers to a part of speech in linguistics.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

RESEMBLE is classified as a noun.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

HOPE and FEAR can function as both verbs and nouns.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The noun forms of verbs undergo a significant change when derived.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Adverbs are created by adding suffixes to nouns.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The process of conversion allows a lexeme to change its class without altering its form.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Lexical items always have predictable meanings.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Inflectional processes change the word class of the words to which they apply.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Nominal counterparts of verbs typically include added suffixes.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Mono-morphemic adverbs include words like SOON and NEVER.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

All nouns derived from adjectives use the suffix -ness.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The prefix un- means 'to reverse the action of'.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The word GLASWEGIAN is derived from the free morpheme Glasgow.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The suffix -ist often denotes a devotee of or expert on a particular subject.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Adjectives derived from other adjectives predominantly use suffixes.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The suffix -hood denotes the state of being an X.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The suffix -ity can be used to derive nouns from the base form of adjectives.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'transitive verbs' refers to verbs that can function without an object.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The suffix '-ful' is used to form adjectives from verbs.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Compose' can be transformed into 'decompose' using the prefix 'de-'.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The word 'readable' is derived from a verb using the suffix '-able'.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'illegible' indicates that a text is easy to read.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Intransitive verbs like 'lie' do not have a direct object.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Tangible' refers to something that cannot be touched or perceived physically.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The comparative construction 'more… than' can be used with the adjective 'interesting'.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The suffix -ify can derive verbs from adverbial bases.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The verb 'magnify' can be derived from a bound root.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

All adjectives used to derive -en verbs are disyllabic.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The prefix en- forms verbs meaning 'cause to become X' from a variety of nouns and adjectives.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The suffix -ate can only be attached to nominal roots in English derivation.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The suffix -ness is known for yielding a large number of unexpected lexemes.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The word 'breathe' is related to a voiceless consonant conversion.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Most bases to which the suffix -ate is attached are clear-cut nominal roots.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a primary or root compound?

<p>Its interpretation relies on knowledge of the world rather than linguistic knowledge. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way can secondary compounds be interpreted?

<p>Their interpretations are highly predictable due to their derivation from verbs. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which best represents a right-headed compound?

<p>Crime prevention as a kind of prevention. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes the stress pattern typical in compound words?

<p>The first element of a compound generally receives primary stress. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of right-headed compounds?

<p>They typically express a type or class involving the first element. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a secondary compound?

<p>Wish-fulfilment (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does a faintheart differ from a typical compound?

<p>It has a metaphorical rather than literal interpretation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an incorrect interpretation of the compound 'crime prevention'?

<p>Utilizing crime as a preventive measure. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily distinguishes compound nouns from noun phrases?

<p>The main stress is placed on the left element (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of compound is represented by the example 'hairnet'?

<p>Noun-noun (NN) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In terms of headedness, which statement about compound nouns is accurate?

<p>Most compound nouns are right-headed (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What semantic property primarily influences the interpretation of compound nouns?

<p>The meanings of the two components (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following compounds can be considered a verb-noun compound?

<p>Playtime (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is 'hair restorer' unambiguous in its meaning?

<p>It has a specific functional interpretation relating to hair growth (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a recognized type of compound?

<p>Noun-adjective (NA) (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these compounds is an example of a preposition-noun (PN) type?

<p>Overcoat (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the defining feature of compound verbs?

<p>They consist of two verbs with a fixed order. (A), They can take on new meanings not evident from their parts. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of compound verb is formed by joining a noun with a verb?

<p>Noun-verb (NV) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which compound adjective example uses a preposition as its first element?

<p>overactive (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is true about right-headed compounds?

<p>The rightmost element is the head of the compound. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes compounds formed by affixation compared to those formed by compounding?

<p>Verbs formed by compounding are very rare. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'head' refer to in the context of compounds?

<p>The main morpheme that influences the compound. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which structure of compound verbs typically creates new meanings through derivation?

<p>Preposition-verb (PV) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of compound is considered the most productive in forming new terms?

<p>Preposition-adjective (PA) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Verbs formed by compounding are more common than verbs derived by affixation.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Right-headed compounds have the leftmost element as the head.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Preposition-verb compounds are the least common type of compound verbs.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

All English compounds are right-headed.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The compound 'fail-safe' refers to a process designed to return to a safe condition if it fails.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

New adjectives with the meaning 'too X' are readily formed from compounds with the preposition 'over'.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A compound verb can be created by adding 'under' to any verb in a competitive context.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Compounds formed with 'over-' can be classified as lexical items only if they follow strict rules.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'greenhouse' refers to a structure made of glass used for growing plants.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The primary stress in the compound 'blackboard' is on the word 'board'.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In English, roots are primarily bound rather than free.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The example 'hairnet' is classified as a phrase due to its predictable meaning.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Phrases generally feature stress on the last word, while compounds stress the first element.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'toy factory' implies a factory that produces toys.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Semantic unpredictability is a consistent feature of both compounds and phrases.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The stress pattern in 'White House' indicates it is a compound word.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A primary compound like hairnet is predictable based solely on linguistic knowledge.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Verbs are common elements in English compounds.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A secondary compound like crime prevention denotes a specific type of prevention.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'faintheart' refers to a type of heart.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Hair restorer is an example of a primary compound.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The combination of recognizable parts in a word can clarify its meaning.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The interpretation of compounds always follows strictly linguistic rules.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Compound nouns in English are primarily formed from verbs.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a verbal compound, the first element usually denotes the subject of the action.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the compound noun 'hair restorer,' the left-hand element and right-hand element together create a clear meaning.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The majority of compound nouns in English have the main stress on the right.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Almost any combination of two nouns can form a compound in English.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The meanings of terms like 'butterfly net' and 'hair net' are derived solely from the meaning of the word 'net.'

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Hair nets, butterfly nets, and mosquito nets are examples of compounds whose meanings are immediately clear from their components.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Home compound nouns often require knowledge of their specific usage to understand their meanings effectively.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The complexity of new vocabulary needs primarily arises from changes in activities and properties.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The plural of the phrase jack-in-the-box is formed by adding -s to the head noun.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A compound whose first element is 'ham' can be semantically appropriate for a cheeseburger.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Brother-in-law is a phrasal word that behaves like a compound since it forms its plural by adding -s only to the head noun.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Blends are compounds where at least one component is fully reproduced.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Acronyms are always pronounced by stating each letter in turn.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Phrasal words can only be noun phrases and cannot include adjectives or verb phrases.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Died-in-the-wool is an example of a word that behaves like a phrase in terms of structure but acts as an adjective.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'blends' refers specifically to compound words created from two full components.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The expression jack-in-the-box technically functions as a word due to its meaning, despite being a noun phrase.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The word 'sonar' is an example of a blend that combines elements from different words.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The phrase couldn't-care-less has a structure of a verb phrase but functions as a noun.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In terms of structure, phrasal words resemble phrases, but they behave syntactically like single words.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Phrasal words can express relationships that are similar to those in syntax.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

All compounds in English follow the same structural rules as phrases.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The demand for new noun vocabulary is less prominent in fields like information technology.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Idiom

A group of words whose meaning is not predictable from the meanings of its individual words.

Idiom Example

'Kick the bucket' means 'to die'.

Collocation

Words that frequently appear together, often with restricted meanings.

Collocation Example

'White wine' isn't just 'white' and 'wine'; it refers to a type of wine; the meaning of 'white' is different within this specific expression.

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Proverb

A traditional saying (sentence) with an intended meaning that is different from the literal words.

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Proverb Example

'Too many cooks spoil the broth' means that too many people working on a task can make it worse.

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Unpredictable Meaning

The meaning of an idiom or proverb can't be figured out from just the individual words.

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Red Herring

An irrelevant argument or distraction.

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Dioecious

Having male and female reproductive structures on separate plants.

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Suffix -ly

Indicates an adjective is used as an adverb, meaning 'in an X fashion'.

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Un-Clintonish tactics

Tactics that are unlike those used by President Clinton.

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De-Yeltsinized government

A government purged of Yeltsin's influence.

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Antirehabilitationist

A person who opposes rehabilitation in judicial punishment.

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Keep tabs on

To pay close attention to or monitor something.

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Words as building blocks

Words are fundamental units in language, used to construct phrases and sentences.

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Words as types

Different instances of the same word with the same meaning.

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Words as tokens

Specific occurrences of a word in a particular text (or speech).

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Predictable words

Words whose meanings are understood based on context.

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Unpredictable words

Words requiring a dictionary to understand their meaning.

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Lexical Items

Words with distinct meanings or uses, listed in dictionaries.

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Dictionary Entry

A word's definition, class, and pronunciation.

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Single-word Sentence

A sentence consisting of a single word (e.g., 'Go!', 'Sit!').

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Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate the sounds they represent.

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Sound Symbolism

Words where the sound suggests a vague meaning, like 'smoothness' or 'wetness'.

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Conventional Meaning

Words where the meaning is arbitrary and learned through convention.

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Token

A specific instance of a word in a text.

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Type

A general category of a word.

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Semantic Idiosyncrasies

Words or phrases with unique meanings that are not predictable.

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Take a Shine To

To be attracted to someone.

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Single unit semantically

A group of words that function as a single unit of meaning, even though they have individual meanings.

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What is an idiom?

An idiom is a group of words whose meaning is not predictable from the meanings of its individual words.

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Why are idioms hard to learn?

Idioms are hard to learn because their meaning is not based on the individual words, but on a shared, cultural understanding.

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How do idioms differ from collocations?

Idioms are different from collocations because idioms have a completely different meaning from the individual words, while collocations simply have a restricted meaning.

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What are words?

Words are the basic units of language with unpredictable meanings, listed in dictionaries and used to build phrases and sentences.

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What are idioms?

Idioms are expressions where the meaning of the whole phrase is not predictable from the meanings of the individual words.

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Why are idioms tricky?

Idioms are hard to learn because their meaning comes from shared cultural understanding, not just the words themselves.

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Predictable Word Meaning

Some words have predictable meanings because they're made of parts with known meanings. For example, 'dioecious' means 'separate sexes' because 'di' means two and 'ecious' means 'house'.

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Word Types vs Tokens

A 'word type' is a general category like 'cat', while a 'word token' is a specific instance like the word 'cat' on page 5 of a book.

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How Do Words Get Meaning?

Some words are onomatopoeic, others have sound symbolism, but most meanings are based on convention or agreement.

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How do idioms differ from phrases?

While both idioms and phrases have multiple words, idioms have a completely different meaning from the individual words. Phrases, on the other hand, restrict the meaning of certain words within them, but their overall meaning is still understandable from the individual words.

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What are collocations?

Collocations are words that often appear together, often with restricted meanings. For example, 'white wine' refers to a specific type of wine, not just any 'white' liquid.

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Why are proverbs like idioms?

Proverbs are traditional sayings that hold specific meanings not always clear from the literal words. Just like idioms, proverbs have a single, conventional meaning that's independent of the individual words.

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What makes some words unpredictable?

Some words have meanings that cannot be easily understood from their literal meaning or from the context in which they are used. These words often require a dictionary or cultural knowledge to understand.

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What's a proverb?

It's a traditional saying with a conventional meaning different from the literal words combined. Example: 'A stitch in time saves nine' means it's better to address problems early.

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What's the difference between a phrase and an idiom?

A phrase has a meaning that's understandable from its individual words, while an idiom has a completely different, non-literal meaning.

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What makes a proverb unpredictable?

Its meaning is not directly conveyed by the words, requiring cultural understanding.

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Bound Root

A morpheme that can't stand alone as a word and only appears within a larger word.

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Compound Word

A word formed by combining two or more morphemes, including free roots and bound roots.

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Combining Forms

Two bound roots combined to make a new word, often from Greek or Latin origins.

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Prefix

A morpheme added to the beginning of a word that changes its meaning.

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Suffix

A morpheme added to the end of a word that changes its meaning.

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Allomorph

A variation of a morpheme that has the same meaning but different pronunciation.

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What determines allomorph choice?

The sound immediately before the suffix dictates which allomorph is used.

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Free Root

A morpheme that can stand alone as a word.

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Morphology

The study of word structure and how morphemes create relationships between words.

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Morpheme

The smallest meaningful unit in language, like a building block for words.

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Mono-morphemic

A word made up of only one morpheme.

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Phonological Structure

The way words are organized by sounds, syllables, and rhythm.

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Duality of Patterning

The ability of human language to be analyzed into meaningful units (morphemes, words) and meaningless units (sounds, syllables).

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Free Morphemes

Morphemes that can stand alone as words; they carry meaning independently.

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Bound Morphemes

Morphemes that cannot stand alone; they need to be attached to another morpheme to make sense.

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Cranberry Morpheme

A bound morpheme that appears only in one specific word.

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Root (Morphology)

The core of a word; the morpheme that contributes most directly to the word's meaning.

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Are all roots bound?

No, roots can be either free or bound. Free roots are the whole word, while bound roots need other parts to be complete.

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What are the root morphemes in 'legible' and 'audience'?

The root morphemes are 'leg-' and 'audi-'; they are both bound morphemes, meaning they can't stand alone as words.

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Why are some words unpredictable?

Some words are unpredictable because they have idiomatic meanings that aren't derived from the individual parts of the word. These words often have been borrowed from other languages or have evolved over time.

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Root

The core of a word; the morpheme that contributes most directly to the word's meaning.

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What are roots in 'legible' and 'audience'?

The roots are 'leg-' and 'audi-' respectively. Both are bound morphemes, meaning they can't stand alone as words.

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Open Word Classes

Categories of words that can continuously add new words, like nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs.

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Closed Word Classes

Categories of words that rarely add new words, like pronouns and prepositions.

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Determiners

Words that modify nouns, specifying quantity or identity.

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Singular-Plural Contrast

The difference in form between singular and plural words.

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Case in Pronouns

Pronouns change form based on their grammatical function, like subject or object.

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Suppletive Forms

Words with different forms for the same grammatical function, like 'I/me' or 'he/him'.

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Genitive Case

The grammatical case used for possession, often marked with apostrophe-s.

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Determiners vs. Pronouns

Determining the function of words like 'his', 'our', 'my': are they possessive pronouns or determiners?

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Regular Inflection

Changing a word's form to show grammatical features (like plural or past tense) by adding a standard suffix.

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Irregular Inflection

Changing a word's form in a way that doesn't follow the usual rules, like using a completely different word.

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Suppletion

Relationship between two distinct roots of a single lexeme, where they represent different forms of the same word.

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Lexeme

A basic vocabulary unit of meaning. It's the abstract concept of a word, not its specific form.

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Singular and Plural

Two forms of countable nouns in English, showing how many items are being referred to.

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Regular Plural Suffix

The standard way to make nouns plural in English, usually by adding '-s' to the end of the word.

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Irregular Plural Suffixes

Special suffixes or forms used to make some nouns plural, not following the standard rule.

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Grammatical Words

Different forms of a single lexeme that represent different grammatical features.

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Zero Plural

A countable noun that expresses its plural form without any suffix. Examples include "sheep," "fish," and "deer."

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Singular-Plural Distinction

The grammatical difference between a singular noun (referring to one item) and a plural noun (referring to more than one item).

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Syntactic Context

The grammatical environment surrounding a word, which helps determine its grammatical function.

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How do we know if a noun is singular or plural?

We determine the grammatical number (singular or plural) of a noun based on the words around it, like articles ('a/an'), numerals ('two'), and verb agreement.

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'Apostrophe-s' Form

The form used to show possession in English, often but not always written with an apostrophe and an 's' (e.g., "John's car").

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Is 'apostrophe-s' morphology or syntax?

The 'apostrophe-s' form belongs to syntax, not morphology. It indicates possession, a grammatical function, rather than a change in the word's form.

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Grammatical Distinction

A difference in form that marks a grammatical feature, like singular vs. plural or past tense vs. present tense.

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Morphologically expressed

A grammatical feature that is shown by a change in the form of a word.

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Derivational Morphology

The study of how affixes (prefixes and suffixes) change the meaning and word class of a base word, creating new lexemes.

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Inflectional Suffix

A suffix that changes the grammatical function of a word without creating a new lexeme, like marking tense in verbs or plural in nouns.

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Word Class

A category of words that share similar grammatical behavior and function in a sentence, like nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.

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Conversion

A process where a word changes its word class without adding any affixes. For example, 'run' (verb) can become 'a run' (noun).

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Affixation

The process of adding prefixes and suffixes to a base word to create new words or modify their grammatical function.

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Zero Derivation

Creating a noun form of a verb without adding any suffix, leaving the form identical.

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What is a lexical item?

It's a linguistic unit whose meaning is not predictable from its parts and thus needs to be listed in a dictionary.

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How are inflection and derivation different?

Inflection changes the grammatical function of a word without changing its lexical category (e.g., singular to plural). Derivation changes the lexical category of a word (e.g., verb to noun).

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What is a lexeme?

It's the basic vocabulary unit of meaning. It's the abstract concept of a word, not its specific form.

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What is the basic form of a verb?

The basic form of a verb is its infinitive form, without any inflectional endings; it's usually preceded by 'to' (e.g., 'to run', 'to eat').

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What makes a noun-verb vocabulary 'ambivalent'?

Some words can function both as nouns and verbs, showcasing a blended behavior that is not purely noun-like or verb-like.

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How does English handle nouns and verbs?

English often has nouns that are derived from verbs. This can be done through zero derivation or using suffixes.

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Conversion in Adverbs

Some adverbs are created directly from adjectives without adding a suffix, like 'fast' (adj.) becoming 'fast' (adv.).

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Bound Morphemes in Words

Some word parts, like 'Glasweg-' in 'Glaswegian', can't stand alone as words and only appear within larger words.

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Nouns from Adjectives: -ity

The suffix '-ity' added to adjectives creates nouns that describe the state or quality of being that adjective. For example, 'pure' (adj.) becomes 'purity' (noun).

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Nouns from Adjectives: -ness

The suffix '-ness' added to adjectives creates nouns that describe the state or quality of being that adjective, like 'good' (adj.) becomes 'goodness' (noun).

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Nouns from Adjectives: -ism

The suffix '-ism' added to adjectives creates nouns that describe a system, ideology, or doctrine associated with that adjective. For example, 'radical' (adj.) becomes 'radicalism' (noun).

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Un- Prefix

The prefix 'un-' negates or reverses the meaning of the adjective it's attached to, like 'happy' becomes 'unhappy'.

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In- Prefix & Allomorphs

The prefix 'in-' and its variations (il-, ir-, im-) also negate adjectives, like 'possible' becomes 'impossible'.

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Derivational vs. Inflectional Affixes

Derivational affixes, like '-ness' or '-ity', change a word's meaning and sometimes its word class. Inflectional affixes, like '-s' for plural or '-ed' for past tense, only alter grammatical features, not core meaning.

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Conversion (in linguistics)

A process where a word changes its word class (like noun, verb, adjective) without adding any affixes (prefixes or suffixes). For example, 'run' (verb) can become 'a run' (noun).

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Inflection vs. Derivation

Inflection changes the grammatical function of a word without changing its lexical category (e.g., singular to plural). Derivation changes the lexical category of a word (e.g., verb to noun).

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Ambivalent Noun-Verb Vocabulary

Words that can function as both nouns and verbs depending on the context, like 'hope', 'fear', and 'walk'.

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What do you notice about the nouns in (2)?

The nouns in (2) are formed by adding a suffix to the basic form of the verb in (1). This demonstrates how verbs can be converted to nouns by adding a suffix.

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HOPE and FEAR as 'Zero-Derived' Nouns

Hope and FEAR, as nouns, are derived from the verbs without adding a suffix. They carry a phonologically empty 'zero suffix': HOPE-∅, FEAR-∅.

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What is a 'zero suffix'?

A phonologically empty suffix, meaning it's not pronounced but still indicates a change in grammatical function. Used to create nouns from verbs without changing the spelling.

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What is inflection?

Inflection is when you change the form of a word to show its grammatical function, like making a noun plural or a verb past tense.

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What is derivation?

Derivation is when you create a new word by adding an affix (prefix or suffix) to a base word, often changing its meaning and word class.

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What are inflections called in derivational morphology?

In derivational morphology, inflections are called ‘inflectional suffixes’ and strictly determined by grammar.

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What are derivational affixes?

Derivational affixes are prefixes and suffixes that change the meaning and word class of a base word. These affixes are not strictly determined by grammar like ‘inflectional suffixes’.

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What is conversion?

Conversion is when a word changes its word class without adding any affixes, like changing a verb to a noun.

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What is a base?

A base is the word to which an affix is attached to create a new word or change its grammatical function.

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What is a root?

A root is the core of a word, the morpheme that contributes most directly to the word's meaning. It can be free or bound.

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Morphologically Complex Adverbs

Adverbs that are formed with more than one morpheme but don't use the -ly suffix.

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Conversion (Adverbs)

Creating an adverb from an adjective without adding a suffix.

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Derivational Affixes

Suffixes that change the meaning and/or word class of a base word.

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-let, -ette, -ie Suffixes

Suffixes indicating a smaller or diminutive version of the base noun.

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Bound Morpheme Example: Glasgow

A morpheme that cannot stand alone as a word and only appears within a larger word. Glasgow- is a bound allomorph of the free morpheme Glasgow (as in Glaswegian).

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Noun Derivation from Adjectives

Creating nouns indicating the 'state of being X' from adjective bases.

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Noun Derivation from Verbs

Creating nouns that represent the action or result of the verb.

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'Property of Being X' Suffixes (-ity, -ness, -ism)

Suffixes that describe the characteristic or quality of the base adjective.

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What are adjective suffixes?

Suffixes like '-able', '-ent', '-ant', and '-ive' can turn verbs into adjectives.

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What are noun suffixes?

Suffixes like '-ful', '-less', '-al', and '-ish' can turn nouns into adjectives.

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Transitive Verb

A verb that takes a direct object, indicating the thing or person being acted upon.

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Intransitive Verb

A verb that does not take a direct object.

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Causative Verb

A verb that expresses the cause of an action.

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Incausative Verb

A verb that describes the result of an action, without highlighting the cause.

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What are verb suffixes?

Suffixes like 'de-', '-ise', and '-(i)fy' can turn nouns into verbs.

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Voiced Consonant Verb Derivation

Verbs formed by replacing a noun's final voiceless consonant with a voiced one, sometimes with vowel change.

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-ise/-ify Suffixes for Verbs

These suffixes create verbs from adjectives, like 'nationalize' from 'national.'

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en- Prefix for Verbs

This prefix often forms verbs from adjectives or nouns, meaning 'cause to become' or 'cause to enter,' like 'empower.'

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-en Verbs and Plosives/Fricatives

Words like 'tighten' and 'weaken' usually involve monosyllabic adjectives ending in plosive or fricative sounds.

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Word Family

A group of words related in form and meaning, often sharing a common root, like 'beautify,' 'gentrify,' and 'petrify.'

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Right-Headed Compound

A compound word where the rightmost element contributes the main meaning of the compound.

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Compound Adjective

An adjective formed by combining two or more words, usually with an adjective as the rightmost element.

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Productive Prefix

A prefix that can be added to a wide range of words to create new words with a consistent meaning.

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Nested Structure

A compound word where one part is itself a compound, creating layers of meaning.

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VV, NV, AV, PV Compounds

Types of compound verbs formed by combining verbs, nouns, adjectives, and prepositions, respectively.

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Compounding vs. Affixation

Two ways to form new words: compounding combines words directly, while affixation adds prefixes or suffixes.

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Compound Nouns

Words formed by combining two or more nouns, often with the main stress on the first part.

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Compound Noun Types

Compound nouns are formed by combining different word classes, like verb-noun (VN), noun-noun (NN), adjective-noun (AN), and preposition-noun (PN).

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Juxtaposition in Compounds

Almost any two nouns can be combined to form a compound noun, as long as the resulting word has a plausible meaning.

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Meaning in Compound Nouns

Some compounds have precise meanings that are easily derived from the individual words (like 'hair restorer'). Other compounds rely on shared cultural understanding for their meaning (like 'hairnet').

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Compound Noun Phrases

Words like 'hair restorer', 'butterfly net', and 'mosquito net' are considered single words grammatically, even if they are written with spaces.

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Headedness in Compounds

Determining the 'head' of a compound helps understand its overall meaning. The head is the word that determines the primary meaning of the compound.

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Compound Noun Examples

Some examples of common compound nouns are 'swearword', 'drophammer', 'hairnet', 'greenstone', 'in-group', and 'outpost'.

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Primary Compound

A compound noun where the right-hand noun is not derived from a verb and its meaning is not predictable from its parts.

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Secondary Compound

A compound noun where the first element is interpreted as the object of the verb contained in the second element, making the meaning more predictable.

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What is a 'headed' compound?

A compound where one element is dominant and determines the overall meaning of the compound.

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What is a 'headless' compound?

A compound where neither element determines the overall meaning, and the meaning comes from a metaphorical interpretation.

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What is a right-headed compound?

A compound noun where the right-hand element determines the overall meaning, like 'crime prevention' - it's a type of prevention.

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How are compounds interpreted?

The interpretation of a compound noun depends on our knowledge of the world and linguistic rules, and sometimes includes metaphorical interpretations.

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What is the most common type of compound?

Secondary compounds are more common than primary compounds because they follow predictable patterns based on verb objects.

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What is the significance of verbal compounds?

Verbal compounds are common despite the rarity of verbs in compounds because they are easy to interpret based on the object of the verb.

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Compound Verbs

Verbs formed by combining two words, like 'stir-fry' or 'hand-wash'.

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Productive Compounds

Types of compounds where new words can be easily created by following a pattern, like 'over-' for adjectives meaning 'too X'.

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Compound Status

When a word is made of two or more parts, like 'stir-fry' or 'underestimate'.

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Phrasal Words

Items with the structure of phrases but function as single words, often with unpredictable meanings.

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Stress Pattern in Compounds

Compounds often have the stress on the first word, creating a different meaning from the equivalent phrase.

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Semantic Unpredictability

Compounds often have meanings that are not predictable from the individual parts, unlike phrases.

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Distinguish Compounds from Phrases

Use stress pattern - compounds have stress on the first word, phrases on the last.

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Semantic Unpredictability as a Criterion

While unpredictable meaning is a feature of many compounds, it's not a foolproof way to identify them.

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Left-Headed Compound

A compound word where the leftmost element determines the overall meaning. Example: 'blackboard' is a board that is black, not a board for black things.

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Natural Interpretation in Compounds

A compound noun can have a specific meaning that is readily understood based on the meanings of its individual parts, like 'hair restorer', or it can have a less clear interpretation depending on the context, like 'butterfly net'.

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Meaning in Compounds

The meaning of a compound noun is not always simply the sum of the meanings of its individual parts. Sometimes, a new meaning emerges from the combination, like 'butterfly net' being used for catching butterflies.

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Word Classes in Compounding

Different word classes, like verbs, nouns, adjectives, and prepositions, can be combined to form new words, resulting in various types of compound nouns, like 'playtime' (verb-noun), 'blackboard' (adjective-noun), and 'outpost' (preposition-noun).

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Stress in Compound Nouns

Compound nouns typically have the main stress on the leftmost part of the word, helping to distinguish them from phrases. Example: 'BLACK board' is a noun, but 'black BOARD' is a phrase.

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Endocentric Compounds

Compounds that have an internal 'center', meaning one part is the main element and the other part modifies it.

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Blends

Words created by combining parts of two or more other words, often shortening or truncating some of them.

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Acronyms

Words made from the initial letters of a phrase, often pronounced as a single word.

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Truncation in Blends

Reducing one or both components of a blend to just the first part, creating a shortened form.

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Self-Conscious Word Formation

Creating words deliberately, often for a specific purpose, using blending or acronymy.

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Demand for New Words

New words are often created in areas where new vocabulary is needed, especially in rapidly evolving fields.

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Intermediate Between Acronym and Blend

Words like 'sonar' bridge the gap between acronyms and blends, using initial sounds for a blend but pronounced as a word.

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Compound Word vs. Sentence

Compound words have their parts combined in a single word, unlike sentences where words are separate.

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Phrasal Words: Plural Formation

Phrasal words form their plurals by adding '-s' to the whole phrase, not just the head noun.

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Idiosyncratic Meaning

A word or phrase with a unique meaning that is not predictable from the individual words.

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Phrasal Words: Beyond Noun Phrases

Phrasal words can be formed from other types of phrases beyond noun phrases, like adjective or verb phrases.

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Phrasal Word Behavior

Phrasal words behave like single words, despite their internal phrase structure.

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Word Structure vs. Sentence Structure

Compound words have a distinct internal structure compared to sentences, with words combined in a single unit.

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Phrasal Word Examples

Phrasal words include expressions like 'jack-in-the-box', 'dyed-in-the-wool', and 'couldn’t-care-less'.

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Faintheart

An example of a compound where the meaning is metaphorical and not determined by the 'head' word.

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What Makes Compound Meanings Unpredictable?

The meaning of some compounds is not predictable from their individual parts, often due to metaphorical meaning or historical usage.

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Primary vs. Secondary Compounds

Distinguish between compounds where meaning is clear from parts (secondary) and those based on metaphorical usage or historical context (primary).

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What is a Compound's 'Head'?

The 'head' of a compound is the element that determines the overall meaning of the word.

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Are All Compounds Right-Headed?

While many compounds in English are right-headed, others like 'faintheart' are not, meaning their head doesn't necessarily determine the word's meaning.

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Study Notes

Introduction to English Morphology

  • English morphology studies the internal structure of words
  • Chapter 2 focuses on words, sentences, and dictionaries

Words as Meaningful Building Blocks of Language

  • Words are fundamental units in language
  • Words are categorized as types and tokens
  • Meaning of most words is predictable
  • Some words have unpredictable meanings (non-words)

Words as Types and Tokens

  • Words as types are categories of words with similar meanings
  • Words as tokens are individual instances of a word
  • Tokens of the same type can be different occurrences

Words with Predictable Meanings

  • Some words' meanings can be predicted from their sounds
  • Onomatopoeic words mimic sounds (e.g., "meow," "buzz")
  • Sound symbolism: words with similar sounds often have related meanings (e.g., "smooth," "slippery")
  • Most word meanings are conventional, not based on sound alone

Non-Words with Unpredictable Meanings

  • Complex phrases (more than one word) may have meanings not directly predicted from individual component words
  • Idioms are fixed phrases with non-literal meanings (e.g. "keep tabs on", "kick the bucket")
  • Collocationally restricted phrases have conventional meanings (e.g., "white wine," "white coffee")
  • Proverbs are fixed phrases, expressing a conventional, non-literal meaning (e.g., "a stitch in time saves nine", "too many cooks spoil the broth")

Conclusion

  • Words, phrases, and sentences have varying relationships and varying degrees of predictability
  • Predictability of meaning can vary depending on the context
  • Dictionaries may list or not list proverbs and idioms depending on specific dictionaries' conventions, or the task they are trying to perform.

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Related Documents

Morphology Ch 2 PDF
Morphology Ch 3 PDF
Morphology Ch 5 PDF
Morphology Ch 6 PDF

Description

Explore Chapter 2 of English Morphology, where we delve into the structure and categorization of words. Understand the difference between word types and tokens, and discover how meanings can be predictable or unpredictable based on sound and context. This chapter emphasizes the role of words as foundational elements of language.

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