Page 316 - DENG504_LINGUISTICS

Linguistics Gowher Ahmad Naik, Lovely Professional University

Notes
Unit 24: Word-Formation: Derivation, Inflection

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
24.1 Derivational Morphology
24.2 Classification of Derivational Affixes
24.3 Conversion (or Zero Derivation)
24.4 Compounding
24.5 Summary
24.6 Key-Words
24.7 Review Questions
24.8 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this Unit students will be able to:
• Discuss Derivational Morphology
• Explain the Classification of Derivational Affixes.
Introduction

We have already seen that how inflectional morphology functions in the various transformation of
a word. Now we will look at the various aspects of derivational morphology. Strictly speaking
word-formation in real sense does not refer tothe influectional morphology, because the words
created through the inflectional morphology, because the words created though the inflectional
morphological are not new words, they are just the transformation of words into different
grammatical forms. It is derivational morphology which actually creates new words. Let us
understand its various functions in detail.
24.1 Derivational Morphology

Unlike inflectional morphology, in derivational morphology there is no need to stick with the
constant demarcation between affixes and bound morpheme, because more or less they are the
same thing. One reason behind this is that, in derivational morphology grammatical or bound
morpheme is always treated as an affix. A derivational affix shows following characteristics:
1. When a derivational affix is combined with a lexical word, a new lexical word is created.
2. The meaning of the stem is modified in an arbitrary manner when attached with a derivational
affix.
3. The attachments of derivational affixes are before the attachment of inflectional affixes in a
complex word containing both derivational and inflectional affixes.
4. Derivational affixes are capable of changing the grammatical form of the stem.
5. Unlike inflectional affixes, derivational affixes could be both prefixes and suffixes.

24.2 Classification of Derivational Affixes

Classifications of derivational affixes are bit difficult in comparison with the classification of
inflectional affixes, because derivational affixes do not restrict themselves with one grammatical

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