Running Head: Morphology in Practice1 Final Project: Morphology in Practice ENG 1200 Audrey Olschewski Salt Lake Community College Morphology in Practice 2 Abstract Morphology is the analysis of word structure, and because words are the building blocks of a language (The Ling Space; 2014), morphology is an important field for anyone interested in language studies. By understanding morphology one can achieve greater enlightenment on languages both native and foreign. Therefore, this paper was written to illustrate the importance of, as well as the use of, morphology in everyday life and in natural conversation. By entering into an interview with a mathematical and scientific genius, the interviewer sought to discover 12 unknown words or phrases and morphologically dissect them. It was the hypothesis of the interviewer that these 12 unknown word’s meanings, or their represented processes, could be explained through a morphological analysis of them. However, while some of the 10 words were able to be broken down through morphological processes, others proved to be free morphemes, and others were difficult to breakup due to their scientific terminologies. Morphology in Practice 3 Morphology in Practice This project was devised in order to show the importance and usefulness of morphology in understanding the underlying concepts and principles of a language. By understanding morphology one can achieve greater enlightenment on languages both native and foreign. Therefore, this paper was written to illustrate the importance of, as well as the use of, morphology in everyday life and in natural conversation. In other words, this experiment was devised to show morphology in practice, or to bring it out of the books and into real life. By entering into a natural conversation with a mathematical and scientific genius, the interviewer sought to discover 12 unknown words or phrases and morphologically dissect them. It was the hypothesis of the interviewer that these 12 unknown word’s meanings, or their represented processes, could be explained through a morphological analysis of them. By analyzing the word’s affixes, categories and properties, the interviewer hoped to gain a basic understanding of these scientific or mathematical words. Literature Review Before we dive into the field practice of Morphology, it’s important to set up the prerequisite information. Morphology is the analysis of word structure and words are the building blocks that make up a language (The Ling Space, 2014). Morphology gives important insights into the structure of language, the categories of words and the operations that create and modify words in various ways (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.116). Therefore, linguists define words as the smallest free form found in language; an element that doesn’t have to occur in a fixed position with respect to neighboring elements, and can even be isolated (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.116). Morphology in Practice 4 Words have internal units called morphemes. Morphemes are the smallest units of language that carries data about the meaning or function of a word. For example, “teacher” is made up of 2 morphemes: “teach” and “-er”. However, words do not always have to be deconstructed to get morphemes. Some words, in and of themselves, are considered morphemes. For example, the word “cook” cannot be broken down into smaller parts while still carrying meaning (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.117). These morphemes that can stand by themselves are called free morphemes. Morphemes that require another morpheme in order to contain meaning are called bound morphemes. For example, while the word “cook” is a free morpheme, the “-s” we might add to the end of it to make “cook” plural is a bound morpheme because “-s” cannot exist in full meaning by itself. By dissecting a word into its internal components we can identify the morphemes and classify them based off their roles in the larger word (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.118). These morphemes can be classified by their function in the word. For example, the root is the core of the word and carries the main meaning of the word. The root also determines the lexical category; whether the word a noun, verb, adjective or preposition. Morphemes can also be classified as affixes. Affixes are bound morphemes in the form of a prefix (attached to the beginning of the word), suffix, (attached to the end of the word) or infixes (occur within the word; not common in English). For example, the prefix is “un-” while “-ed” is the suffix in “undefined” (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg. 120). Another important term to understand is called derivation. Derivations “are affixes with words whose meaning or category becomes distinct from its base.” For example, “heart” is a noun until the derivational affix “-less” is added to it; in which case it would become the adjective “heartless” (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.133). Furthermore, these derivation Morphology in Practice 5 affixes can be separated into two classes. In class 1, affixes trigger changes in the consonant or vowel segments of the base. For example, the root “public” sounds different when combined with “-ity” as in “publicity” (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.126). In class 2, affixes have no effect on segmental make-up. For example, the root “prompt” sounds the same even with “ness” added to it, as in “promptness” (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.127). In contrast with derivational suffixes are inflectional suffixes. Inflectional suffixes “do not change the grammatical category or the type of meaning found in the word to which it implies.” For example, “heart” is a noun even when you add “-s” to the end of it (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.132). In the study of Morphology words can be categorized into many categories, one of which is called compounds. Compounds are a combo of 2 already existent words, such as “butterfly”. It is important to note that when working with compounds the rightmost morpheme determines the category of the new word. For example, “green” (adjective) when combined with “house” (noun) becomes “greenhouse” (noun) (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.128). Compounds can be distinguished into endocentric and exocentric compounds. Endocentric compounds are explained by the concept implied by the word’s head. For example, the word “steamboat” is an endocentric compound because a “steamboat” is a boat powered by steam. An exocentric compound does not follow the meanings of the compounded words. For example, a “redneck” is not a person who has a red neck (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.130). Other words can be classified as a suppletion, or a word that replaces a morpheme with an entirely different morpheme in order to indicated grammatical contrast. An example of a suppletion would be “went” (past) in connection to “go” (present) (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.136). Additionally, some words are considered reduplications, which mark a Morphology in Practice 6 grammatical or semantic contrast by repeating all or part of the base to which it implies. There are very few examples of reduplications in English, but they would include “teeny-weeny” and “itsy-bitsy” (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.137). Moreover, there are many words which are classified as cliticization or words pronounced with another word such as “I’m” for “I am” (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.138). Then there are words that are classified as conversions. A conversion assigns an already existing word to a new syntactic category. For example, the word “butter” a noun, can become a verb such as in “butter the bread”. Some words are considered clippings or words that are shortened version of another word, such as “flu” for “influenza” (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.139). Other words can be defined as blends, or words created from two already existing words. An example of a blend is the word “brunch” created from the words breakfast and lunch (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.140). Furthermore, words can be considered backformations or words that are created by removing an affix from another word in the language. For example, the word “edit” is derived from “editor” (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.141). A word category that is more popular contains words that are derived from the initial letters of a series of words to be pronounced as a new word. Such words are called acronyms, such as NATO. Though often confused with acronyms, initialisms take initial letters from words and places them together, but cannot pronounce them as a single word, such as FBI. Some words are considered onomatopoeic words, or words created to sound like the ting the describe such as “buzz” and “sizzle” (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.141). Still other words are derived from names, such as “Watt” from James Watt. These words are called eponyms (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.142). Morphology in Practice 7 Besides explaining the categories of words, morphology seeks to define the many properties that words can possess. One such property is called inflection. Inflection refers to “the modification of a word’s form to indicate grammatical information of various sorts” (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.131). Related to inflection, words can have what’s called an internal change, or “the process that substitutes a non-morphemic segment for another to mark a grammatical contrast”. For example, sing (present) versus sang (past) (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.135). Another term to understand when speaking of Morphology, is the concept of tone placements. Tone placements are designed to differentiate between past and future tenses. When speaking of tone placements, the symbol ‘ marks a high tone, while ’ signifies a low tone (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.137). Yet another term to consider when speaking of Morphology is morphophonemics. These are words whose pronunciation is sensitive to morphological factors. A common example of morphophonemics involves the suffix “-s” as in lip[s], pill[z], or judg[ez] (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg.143). Discussion and Methodology In order to show morphology in practice, or to bring it out of the books and into real life, an interviewer and interviewee sat down to have a natural conversation (as natural as can be expected when placed in front of a camera). In this conversation the interviewer asked the interviewee to speak about their areas of expertise; they being Differential Equations and Organic Chemistry. This conversation took place, like many do, in the interviewee’s home, in an open living area with comfortable chairs placed across from each other. All the equipment used was a camera for voice recording, a pencil and paper for the interviewer’s notes, and some notecards that listed the topics the interviewee wanted to explain. The interviewer participated much as a student would; by listening carefully and interjecting a comment or question every Morphology in Practice 8 now and then. While the interviewee explained mathematical and scientific words or processes, the interviewer listened for 12 unknown words or phrases to morphologically dissect. (To see the interviewee’s permission form please see Appendix B, page 14.) Results and Implications The words derived from this interview were indeed new for me. In fact, some of these words and phrases were so outlandish that I had no idea where to begin in breaking them down. The scientific terminologies were difficult to split because they do not use common affixes. However, by following the morphological steps explained to me through the textbook: Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction and through the YouTube station: The Ling Space, I was able to break down some of these new words. My hypothesis was that these 12 unknown word’s meanings, or their represented processes, could be explained through a morphological analysis of them. However, while some of the 10 words were able to be broken down through morphological processes, others proved to be free morphemes, and others were difficult to breakup due to their scientific terminologies. This project illustrated that some word’s meanings just cannot be hinted at through morphology, because many words are simply free morphemes, or morphemes that stand by themselves (O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J., 2010, pg. 75). To see the 12 chosen scientific and mathematical words, as well as their corresponding notes, please see Appendix A, pages 11-13. Through this project I was able to achieve a greater understanding of Morphology, as well as take a more active participation in discovering its part in everyday life. This project helped me understand the “magic” words possess, as well as the intelligence and order that is utilized in developing a language. Furthermore, this experiment has helped me use morphology to identify and classify words that I had no previous understanding, or dictionary definition of; Morphology in Practice 9 words that would be considered as foreign to me. The study of morphology has given me a fascination for words as well as a greater appreciation for all languages. Additionally, it has endowed me with skills that can be utilized in future conversations, careers, or personal interests. Now if all could be given a basic knowledge of Morphology, I’m sure all would experience a greater respect and passion for language as I have. Morphology in Practice 10 References The Ling Space. (2014, October 15). Morphemes. Retrieved April 16, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nduDAN9sKx4 The Ling Space. (2015, January 7). Roots and Affixes. Retrieved April 16, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN1DxuVt4hI O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J. (Eds.). (2010). Chapter 4: Morphology. In Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction (6th ed., pp. 115-147). Boston, NY: Bedford/ St. Martins. O'Grady, W., & Archibald, J. (Eds.). (2010). Chapter 4: Morphology. In Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction Study Guide (6th ed., pp. 73-105). Boston, NY: Bedford/ St. Martins. Morphology in Practice 11 Appendix A *Please note, many of the below affixes are specific to science terminology, and are not common in day to day words. 1. Transhydrogenation: Morphemes: 3 Root Word: Hydrogen Affixes: Inflection affixes: Prefix: “Trans-” (above, beyond or through) Suffix: “-ation” (process or condition) 2. Carbonyl: Morphemes: 2 Root Word: Carbon Affixes: Derivational Suffix: “-yl” (Signifies a monovalent radical) 3. Carbocation Morphemes: 2 Root Word: Carbocate (with clipping) Affixes: Inflectional Suffix: “-tion” (state of being) 4. Ozonolysis Morphemes: 2 Root Word: Ozone (with clipping) Morphology in Practice 12 Affixes: Inflectional Suffix: “-lysis” (separation or breakdown) 5. Eigenvalue Morphemes: 2: Compound with Borrowing Root Word(s): Eigen (German for characteristic) and Value Affixes: None 6. Eigenvector Morphemes: 2: Compound with Borrowing Root Word(s): Eigen (German for characteristic) and Vector Affixes: None 7. Hydroboration Morphemes: 3 Root Word: Boron (with clipping) Affixes: Prefix: “Hydro-” (water) Suffix: “-ation” (process or condition) 8. NaNH₂ Morphemes: 1 (N): Initialism Root Word: NA Affixes: NA Morphology in Practice 13 9. Dehydrohalogenation Morphemes: 4 Root Word: Halogen Affixes: Inflectional Prefixes: “De-” (lack of or removal of) “Hydro-” (water) Suffix: “-ation” (process or condition) 10. Markovnikov Morphemes: 1 (N): Eponym Root Word: NA Affixes: NA 11. Halogenation Morphemes: 2 Root Word: Halogen Affixes: Inflection Affix: Suffix: “-ation” (process or condition) 12. Halohydrin Morphemes: 2 Root Word: Hydrin Affixes: Inflectional Prefix: “Halo-” (Greek for salt) Morphology in Practice 14 Appendix B