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Questions and Answers
The ability of an affix to create new complex words is known as its productivity.
The ability of an affix to create new complex words is known as its productivity.
True
The suffix -th, as in width, is known to be highly productive in word formation.
The suffix -th, as in width, is known to be highly productive in word formation.
False
All affixes have the same level of productivity when forming new words.
All affixes have the same level of productivity when forming new words.
False
The suffix -ness contributes to the creation of more new words than the suffix -ish.
The suffix -ness contributes to the creation of more new words than the suffix -ish.
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Redundancy rules dictate the generation of new words in a language.
Redundancy rules dictate the generation of new words in a language.
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Word-formation rules can only describe existing complex words without forecasting new ones.
Word-formation rules can only describe existing complex words without forecasting new ones.
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Some affixes are altogether unproductive, not being used at all in forming new words.
Some affixes are altogether unproductive, not being used at all in forming new words.
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An important question in morphology is why some affixes increase word productivity while others do not.
An important question in morphology is why some affixes increase word productivity while others do not.
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The word affordable is stored entirely without deconstruction in optimal processing models.
The word affordable is stored entirely without deconstruction in optimal processing models.
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Resting activation refers to the phenomenon where words stored in the lexicon may never fully decline to zero between retrievals.
Resting activation refers to the phenomenon where words stored in the lexicon may never fully decline to zero between retrievals.
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Decomposition route and the whole word route are completely independent processes in language processing.
Decomposition route and the whole word route are completely independent processes in language processing.
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The British National Corpus is an example of a large electronic text collection used for studying vocabulary.
The British National Corpus is an example of a large electronic text collection used for studying vocabulary.
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Higher frequency words tend to have lower resting activation levels compared to less frequently used words.
Higher frequency words tend to have lower resting activation levels compared to less frequently used words.
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Accessing a low-frequency complex word in the mental lexicon is generally slower due to its diminished resting activation.
Accessing a low-frequency complex word in the mental lexicon is generally slower due to its diminished resting activation.
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The suffix -ity can be appended to all bases that end in -ous without exception.
The suffix -ity can be appended to all bases that end in -ous without exception.
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All derived terms from transitive verbs can be formed with the suffix -ee.
All derived terms from transitive verbs can be formed with the suffix -ee.
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When speakers search for a word, they only activate the target word without affecting related terms.
When speakers search for a word, they only activate the target word without affecting related terms.
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The terms affordable, readable, and manageable are considered both possible and actual words.
The terms affordable, readable, and manageable are considered both possible and actual words.
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Storage methods in language processing should prioritize efficiency in both storage and processing costs.
Storage methods in language processing should prioritize efficiency in both storage and processing costs.
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The term 'whole word route' refers to accessing the word by breaking it down into its morphemes.
The term 'whole word route' refers to accessing the word by breaking it down into its morphemes.
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A conceivable word is one that is currently used in everyday speech.
A conceivable word is one that is currently used in everyday speech.
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The term 'cannibalizable' is considered an actual word in the English language.
The term 'cannibalizable' is considered an actual word in the English language.
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The British National Corpus contains both kinds and tokens representing distinct aspects of word frequency.
The British National Corpus contains both kinds and tokens representing distinct aspects of word frequency.
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Whole word storage methods result in higher processing costs compared to decomposed storage methods.
Whole word storage methods result in higher processing costs compared to decomposed storage methods.
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Word-formation rules can sometimes restrict the creation of forms that have been observed in literature.
Word-formation rules can sometimes restrict the creation of forms that have been observed in literature.
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In processing a newly coined term, decomposition is the only option if there is no whole word representation available.
In processing a newly coined term, decomposition is the only option if there is no whole word representation available.
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Predictability of meaning is a characteristic of all potential words.
Predictability of meaning is a characteristic of all potential words.
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The speaker’s ability to produce new words is a crucial aspect of understanding word productivity.
The speaker’s ability to produce new words is a crucial aspect of understanding word productivity.
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The activation of a word decreases significantly after its first use, regardless of its frequency.
The activation of a word decreases significantly after its first use, regardless of its frequency.
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The concept of a person's mental lexicon is uniform across all speakers.
The concept of a person's mental lexicon is uniform across all speakers.
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Every conceivable word is also an actual word in the language.
Every conceivable word is also an actual word in the language.
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The suffix -able can only be applied to a select group of verbs.
The suffix -able can only be applied to a select group of verbs.
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It is widely accepted that knowing a word implies familiarity with it.
It is widely accepted that knowing a word implies familiarity with it.
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The suffix -ity cannot be attached to any base that does not meet its morphological requirements.
The suffix -ity cannot be attached to any base that does not meet its morphological requirements.
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The word 'employee' is derived from a transitive verb.
The word 'employee' is derived from a transitive verb.
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The definite article 'the' appears more frequently than the verb BE in English language usage.
The definite article 'the' appears more frequently than the verb BE in English language usage.
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Complex words that are infrequently used tend to remain intact in the lexicon.
Complex words that are infrequently used tend to remain intact in the lexicon.
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Productive processes in word formation are associated with many low-frequency words.
Productive processes in word formation are associated with many low-frequency words.
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The suffix -ification is synonymous with the suffix -ion in all contexts.
The suffix -ification is synonymous with the suffix -ion in all contexts.
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The nominal suffix -ment can be applied to both verbs and prepositions.
The nominal suffix -ment can be applied to both verbs and prepositions.
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The selection of nominalizing suffixes is completely arbitrary and does not follow any restrictions.
The selection of nominalizing suffixes is completely arbitrary and does not follow any restrictions.
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There are two main classes of words that can take the suffix -ify.
There are two main classes of words that can take the suffix -ify.
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The formation of nouns from verbs like magnify, verbalize, and concentrate is known as nominalization.
The formation of nouns from verbs like magnify, verbalize, and concentrate is known as nominalization.
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The suffix -ize is appropriate for use with any base word without restrictions.
The suffix -ize is appropriate for use with any base word without restrictions.
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Phonological restrictions on suffixation can influence the possibility of creating new complex words in English.
Phonological restrictions on suffixation can influence the possibility of creating new complex words in English.
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The term 'affordable' can be defined as 'can be afforded'.
The term 'affordable' can be defined as 'can be afforded'.
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Passive vocabulary consists of words that speakers actively use in conversation.
Passive vocabulary consists of words that speakers actively use in conversation.
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Possible words can be formed according to the norms of English word formation.
Possible words can be formed according to the norms of English word formation.
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The difference between actual and possible words is that only possible words can be idiosyncratic.
The difference between actual and possible words is that only possible words can be idiosyncratic.
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Native speakers tend to utilize a broader vocabulary compared to non-native speakers.
Native speakers tend to utilize a broader vocabulary compared to non-native speakers.
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Complex words that do not follow word-formation rules must be stored in the mental lexicon.
Complex words that do not follow word-formation rules must be stored in the mental lexicon.
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The statement 'knowledgeable' follows the word-formation rule for -able words.
The statement 'knowledgeable' follows the word-formation rule for -able words.
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Psycholinguistic data supports the idea that the brain strictly avoids redundancy in lexical storage.
Psycholinguistic data supports the idea that the brain strictly avoids redundancy in lexical storage.
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The brain processes words at a rate of approximately five words per second in regular conversation.
The brain processes words at a rate of approximately five words per second in regular conversation.
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Emerging theories of the mental lexicon suggest it should exclude all regular complex words.
Emerging theories of the mental lexicon suggest it should exclude all regular complex words.
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Regular past tense forms of verbs are generally included in dictionaries.
Regular past tense forms of verbs are generally included in dictionaries.
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The term 'readable' implies that a text can be returned.
The term 'readable' implies that a text can be returned.
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The need for processed information can conflict with the need for minimal storage space.
The need for processed information can conflict with the need for minimal storage space.
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Mental lexicons are organized strictly according to the principles of dictionary creators.
Mental lexicons are organized strictly according to the principles of dictionary creators.
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Only morphologically complex words are found in the category of actual words.
Only morphologically complex words are found in the category of actual words.
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An unambiguously documented word must be known by at least some speakers for it to be considered an actual word.
An unambiguously documented word must be known by at least some speakers for it to be considered an actual word.
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Study Notes
Productivity in Morphology
- Productivity in morphology refers to an affix's ability to create new complex words. Not all affixes are equally productive.
- Affixes vary in their productive capacity; some can be used with a broad range of words, while others are limited.
- The nominal suffix "-th" (as in "length") is considered non-productive because it is restricted to a small set of words.
- "-ness" (as in "cuteness") is more productive than "-ish" (as in "apish").
Possible vs. Actual Words
- Possible words are those whose semantic, morphological, or phonological structure aligns with language rules.
- Actual words are currently used by speakers.
- All actual words are possible, but not all possible words are actual.
- "Cannibalizable" is a possible word but not an actual word (not documented) in the English language.
- Determining if a word is actual often relies on documentation in texts (corpora) or from speakers. This includes a degree of overlap in vocabulary between people who speak the same language.
Complex Words in the Lexicon
- Idiosyncratic words (complex words not formed by rules) require storage in the mental lexicon.
- Regular complex words may not need full storage, but the rules for creating them are stored. Storage of words in the mental lexicon is similar to a dictionary, but more than just storage is involved.
- The mental lexicon may store words as whole units, or by decomposing parts into their morphemes.
Frequency and Word Access
- High-frequency words are easier to access in the lexicon. This phenomenon is called "resting activation".
- Speakers use both whole-word access ("whole word route") and decomposition ("decomposition route") for complex word retrieval.
- Word frequency substantially influences the route (decomposition or whole word) used for retrieval. Low-frequency complex words are more likely to be retrieved via decomposition, whereas highly frequent words are retrieved more efficiently through the whole-word route.
- Corpora (large collections of texts) are used to study word frequency. The British National Corpus (BNC) is an example.
Summary of Affix Productivity
- Affix productivity is determined by frequency, along with constraints on its structural components (i.e., phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic).
- Productive processes typically involve many low-frequency words.
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Description
Explore the concepts of productivity in morphology and the distinction between possible and actual words. This quiz delves into how affixes create complex words and the criteria that differentiate actual words from merely possible ones. Test your knowledge on these fundamental linguistic principles.
