L/O: To examine ways in which we can analyze individual words.

1. L/O: To examine ways in which we can analyze individual words. One of key concepts is Lexis – or word-choice You may know this word, or you may be more familiar with the word vocabulary. However, “lexis” has two advantages. It has an adjectival form – lexical. And it has a slightly more specific meaning than “vocabulary.” Lexis refers to “meaning” words rather than grammatical – or “glue” – words. So, “people,” “purple” are lexical; “in,” “might” are grammatical. Today, we will begin to look at lexical morphology – or, the way words, and their meanings, are built.

2. How can we begin to analyze individual words? What could you say about the way the following words are ‘made’? Root word: What is left when all prefixes and suffixes are removed. Also called the base word. • Pick • Unpick • Unpicked • Pigs • Barked • Unlikely • Motherhood • Salty • Cherry • Taller • Chairman • Hardship • Player Root/base word: pick Prefix: Un Root/base word: pick Prefix: Un- Suffix: -ed Compound word: word: chair; man Made up of 2 free morphemes Root/base word: pig Suffix: s (pluralisation)

3. How can we begin to analyze individual words? Key words • Root/Base word: what is left when all affixes are removed • Morpheme: The smallest component of a word that carries meaning • Affix: Morpheme attached before or after base word to change its meaning • Prefix: Affix before a base word • Suffix: Affix after a base word • Inflectional suffix: Suffix that changes the grammar of a noun, verb, adjective • Derivational suffix: Suffix that changes the changes the word class (e.g. adjective to noun: slow – slowness. • Derivational prefix: Prefix that changes the meaning of a word – e.g. pick/unpick • Absolute/Comparative/Superlative: Many adjectives have three forms. • Tall (absolute) • Taller (comparative – “taller than…”) • Tallest (superlative – the most tall)

4. How can we begin to analyze individual words? Which prefixes can you think of? • Pre- • In- • Re- • Con- • De- • Un- • Pro- • Im-/In- • What do the prefixes mean? • How do prefixes change the meaning of words?

5. How can we begin to analyze individual words? Two types of suffix – inflectional and derivational • Inflectional suffixes are grammatical: they show how a word is being used in the sentence. They can show number: • I pick • She picks • And they can also show tense • I/We/She picked • These suffixes change the grammar, but we can use a derivational prefix to change the meaning of the words – e.g., add un- to all the above.

6. How can we begin to analyze individual words? • Derivational suffixes are lexical, like prefixes. They affect meaning by altering the word class. Examples are: darkness, headship, likeable. They can be used to form verbs, abstract nouns, concrete nouns, adverbs and adjectives. Try to come up with at least one example of each; or, can you think of common suffixes and explain the change of class they bring about?

7. Quick quiz • What is an affix? • What are the two types of affix? • What are the two types of prefix and suffix? • Can you explain the difference between these? • Write down two-three words with prefixes. Label the base, and label the effect of the prefix. • Give two inflections of the word ‘run.’ • Give two examples of the other type of suffix. • Words you might like to use: happy; speed; fragile