Lexicology Quiz
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Questions and Answers

The internal composition of a word is known as its ______.

morphological structure

The core part of the word carrying the primary meaning is called the ______.

root

The prefix 'ir-' in 'irresistible' serves a ______ function.

negation

The suffix '-ible' transforms verbs into adjectives, meaning 'capable of being' and it is a ______ morpheme.

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

A word can be broken down into smaller meaningful units called ______.

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

Morphologically, a word is seen as a single, coherent unit, but it can be divided into its ______.

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

Some words, like contractions, can be split into their component parts, such as 'do' + 'not', which shows their ______ structure.

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

The external structure of a word refers to its complete form in a given ______.

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

Lexicology is the branch of linguistics that deals with the study of ______, their meanings, their development, and their relationships to each other within a language.

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

The term 'lexicology' comes from the Greek word 'lexis,' meaning 'word' or 'speech,' and '______,' meaning 'study' or 'discourse.'

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

The concept of a 'word' can vary across different languages, making its ______ as a linguistic phenomenon complex.

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

In linguistics, a word is typically seen as a unit of ______ that can stand alone.

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

Compound words, clitics, and inflectional forms all demonstrate the ______ of word boundaries.

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

Phonological structure refers to the ______ pattern of the word, such as its pronunciation.

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

The main problems of lexicology include determining word ______, understanding meaning and semantics, and studying lexical relations.

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

Lexical semantics is the study of the ______ of words and their nuances in different contexts.

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

Flashcards

Lexicology Definition

The study of words, their meaning, development, and relationships within a language.

Lexical Problems

Issues arising from how words are defined and categorized within a language.

Compound Word

A word formed from two or more words (e.g., "toothbrush").

Clitic

A word part that cannot stand alone but functions like a word in grammar (e.g., '-n't' in "isn't").

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Inflectional Affix

Modifier affecting word form that doesn't change basic meaning (e.g., "add -s" to make a noun plural).

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Derivational Affix

Modifier that changes the meaning or part of speech (e.g., '-ness' changing "happy" to "happiness").

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Word Definition Problems

Difficulties in accurately defining "words" due to varied forms and functions (e.g., compound words, clitics, inflectional variations).

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Phonological Structure (Word)

The sound pattern or pronunciation of a word.

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Morpheme

The smallest meaningful unit of language.

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Root (Morphology)

The core part of a word that carries the primary meaning.

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Affix

A prefix, suffix, infix, or circumfix that modifies the meaning of the root.

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Inflectional Ending

A morpheme that indicates grammatical properties like tense, number, or case.

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External Structure (Word)

The complete form of a word in a language.

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Internal Structure (Word)

The morphemes that make up a word.

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Formal Unity (Word)

A word is typically seen as a single, coherent unit in language.

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Is a word indivisible?

No, a word can be broken down into morphemes, syllables, or even component parts, depending on the context.

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Study Notes

Lexicology

  • Lexicology is the study of words, their meanings, development, and relationships within a language
  • "Lexicology" comes from Greek "lexis" (word/speech) and "logos" (study/discourse)
  • Key problems in lexicology include:
    • Defining a word
    • Understanding word meaning (polysemy, synonymy)
    • Word formation (processes like derivation, compounding, borrowing)
    • Etymology (word origins)
    • Lexical relations (synonyms, antonyms, etc.)
    • Word nuances in different contexts

Word Definition Problems

  • Defining "word" is difficult due to unclear boundaries
  • Words are often seen as units of meaning, but this becomes ambiguous in:
    • Compound words (e.g., toothpaste)
    • Clitics (e.g., "n't" in "isn't")
    • Inflectional forms (e.g., "run," "ran," "running")
    • Phonological/syntactic units (e.g., contractions)
  • Word definition requires considering syntactic role, meaning, form, and usage

Word Structure

  • Phonological Structure: The sounds and pronunciation of a word
  • Morphological Structure: The internal composition using:
    • Root: The core meaning part
    • Affixes: Prefixes, suffixes, etc. modifying root meaning
    • Inflectional endings: Indicate grammatical features like tense or number
  • Syntactic Structure: The word's role in a sentence and its relation to other words

Example: Irresistible

  • External structure: "ir" + "resist" + "ible"
  • Internal structure:
    • "ir-": Negating the root's meaning
    • "resist": The base meaning
    • "-ible": Turns the verb into an adjective

Formal Unity of a Word

  • Words are seen as coherent units

  • However, words are made of smaller meaningful units (morphemes)

  • Roots, prefixes, suffixes, and inflections

  • Words can be broken down phonologically (syllables) and syntactically (e.g., contractions)

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Description

Test your knowledge on lexicology, the study of words and their meanings. This quiz covers key problems in defining words, understanding word structure, and exploring lexical relations. Dive into the intricate world of language and expand your understanding of vocabulary!

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