NEGATION AFFIXES IN ENGLISH

Dedy Subandowo

Muhammadiyah University of Metro

Abstract: This research entitled "Negation Affixes in English". This study is aimed to
describe the various negation affixes in English, morphological process,
morphophonemic and meaning. The research data were taken from various sources of
English grammar book, morphology, research journal and the book which relatees to
the research. English grammar books used in this study are written by Otto Jesperson,
Marcella Frank, Greenbaum and Geoffrey Leech. The method used in this research is
the descriptive-qualitative method. While the data collection techniques are
performed by using jot-down method. And the results of analysis are presented in
tabular form and descriptive method. The result of the research shows that English
has six types of negative affixes which are categorized by the intensity of its
appearance, such as dis-, in-, non-, un-, anti- and -less. Based on the function,
negation affixes are divided into several categories such as adjectives, nouns, verbs,
and adverbs. The morphophonemic affix in- has four allomorphs, they are in-, im-, il-
and ir- . While the analysis revealed that negation affixes have some basic meanings,
such as ‘not’, ‘without’, and ‘anti’.

Keyword: Negative Affixes, English, Morphology

Introduction this topic. He sets out three types of

Negation is not a new topic opposition of particular interest such

which accured recently. It has been as contrariety, privation, and

argued since Aristotle came out with contradiction. Aristotle says that

the idea about logic. Aristotle clearly contradiction is the primary

attaches the greatest importance to opposition, for it is sheer,

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unintermediated opposition. But it is and easily-mastered, negation may

and this may be crucial an opposition seem to be a simple concept. However,

of statements, not of terms (and so, of the use of negation in our daily lives is

things). To be sure, the asserted not as simple as it seems. Like stated

propositions are indeed also about above, negation may be indicated by

things. But Aristotle insists: gesture and other behaviors, such as,

utterance. By gesture, we can show

“...what underlies the
affirmation and negation is not negation by shaking our head by
the affirmation or negation for
what underlies is in no way a moving it side to side. But it is not
sentence. These things are,
however, said to oppose each always the case. In other country with
other as do affirmation and
negation”. (EvaT.H. Brann different cultures, there are a lot of
The way of Naysaying in
http://books.google.co.id/books ways to show negation. Another way
/the_way_of_naysaying)
of negating is through the utterance.

Negation is the act or an As we all know, in grammar, negation

instance of denying (Rakhmania, is the process to transform an

2009:1). It is the opposite of a positive affirmative statement into its opposite

character or quality. Almost as soon as (negative statement).

we are born, we can use negation

We often use a single word
indicated by gesture or other behaviors
‘no’ to say that we do not have the
that we reject, exclude or disagree with
same idea as what has been said or
something. Because it is so common
asked. We use ‘not’ also to state

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disagreement but it does not stand negative suffix –less (Dzuganova,

alone, as in He is not running or He is 2006:332).

not intelligent these come after a be

and followed by verb (running) or 1. Negative Prefix dis-

adjective (intelligent) etc. Jespersen (1960) writes:

"the prefix dis- (from Latin)

Affixal negation is a process of
besides various other meanings
word-formation, by which a new word
also has that of a pure negative, as
is built from a word stem, usually
in dissimilar, dishonest, disagree,
through the addition of an affix, either
disuse, dislike, disbelieve,
at the beginning (prefix) or the end of
generally implying contrary rather
the stem (suffix). A negative affix is an
than contradictory opposition." The
affix that opposes or negates a word
negative prefix dis- is used most
(Dzuganova, 2006:332). The word
often with verbs and abstract
disagree also denotes negation because
nouns, as in the following
it is the opposite of the word agree a
examples: disobey - disobedience,
positive idea which then be added by a
disbelieve— disbelief, displease -
prefix dis-, indicating negative idea.
displeasure. Dis- added to
Discussion
adjectives makes them negative,
The most frequently used
e.g. dishonest, disloyal, and
negative prefixes are: dis-, in-, non-,
disobedient.
un- and anti-. There is only one

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 2. Negative Prefix in- imbalanced, immature, immediate,

The negative prefix in- immedicable, impatient, before

added to adjectives means "not" words starting with the letter "l",

(incompatible, incompetent, in- changes into il- as in illegal,

independent, inorganic, illegible, illegitimate, illogical. The

insufficient, intolerant, invalid); allomorphic ir- variety can be

and added to nouns means added to some words beginning

"without, lacking" (inaccuracy, with the consonant "r", e.g.

inattention, incompatibility, irrational, irregular, ir- relevant,

incompetence, innutrition, irreligious, irresponsible. (The

insufficiency, intolerance). We Oxford Encyclopedic English

have not found any verb negated Dictionary).

by means of in-.

According to the rules of 3. Negative Prefix non-

Latin phonology the prefix in- can The prefix non-, which

have four basic forms (called means "not", comes from Latin

allomorphs), e.g. indecent, impos- non. The prefix was used primarily

sible, illogical, irrational in Roman law terms, which were

according to the beginning adopted into Old French and then

consonant of the word to which it into English. Non- can be added to

is added. Before the consonants /b/, almost any adjective. Some

/m/, and /p/, in- becomes im-: examples include non-active, non-

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 breakable, non-defensive, non- strictly written with hyphen, today

specific, nonessential, non- it is more and more written

interrupted, non-irritating, and together with word it negates (very

non-productive. Non- also com- frequent in American English), or

bines with many nouns, as in both varieties are used (dzuganova,

nonentity, nonresident, and non- 2006:334).

violence. It never combines with According to Randolph

verbs. Quirk et al (1985) the negative pre-

It is interesting to note that fix non- means "not" or "absence

the great majority of non-formed of something" and can be used

adjectives are morphologically with adjectives, adverbs and nouns,

complex words. Most of them end e.g. non-academic, non-economic,

in -al, -ible, -ic, -ing, -ous, etc. nonessential, non-existent, non-

This may be connected with the alcoholic, non-fatal; nonsmoker,

fact that many simplex adjectives non-reader; non-essentially. It is

(such as small, long) have obvious also used to form a neutral

simplex antonyms. negative sense when a form in in-

The spelling of the prefix or un- has a special sense or

non-varies. In the older texts, usually unfavourable connotation

dictionaries, textbooks, and other e.g. noncontroversial vs

materials the prefix non- was uncontroversial; non-effectivex

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 ineffective; nonhuman x unhuman productive type are unbelievable,

x inhuman. unacceptable, unachievable,

unadvisable, etc.
4. Negative Prefix un-

"Un-" is the native English It also attaches to adjectives

prefix used for negation. The made of participles, as in un-

negative prefix un- chiefly attaches bending, unending, unfailing,

to simple adjectives with a native unfeeling, etc.; unborn,

basis, e.g. unclean, uneven, unfair, unemployed, unfinished, unseen,

unwise, unafraid, unfit. Many unstressed, untouched, unsaid etc.

derived adjectives also take this Less frequently, this same prefix

prefix. Denominal derivatives are attaches to nouns: unacceptance,

chiefly characterized by the unbelief, unconcern, unharmony,

suffixes -ed, -y, -ly, -ful, -al, -ish, - unhealth, unheroism,

(i)ous, -worthy. Examples are: unintelligence, uninterruption,

unprincipled, unlucky, unmotherly, unluck, unsuccess, unsatisfaction,

unfaithful, unconditional, unrest, etc.

unselfish, unceremonious, and

Some words that take the
untrustworthy. Deverbal
un- prefix in their adjectival form
derivatives are likewise common.
may have a noun form that uses the
They are all formed with the suffix
negative prefix in-. Such
-able. Some examples of this very
combinations include: unable vs

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 inability, uncivil (ill-mannered,

rude) vs incivility (lack of 6. Negative Suffix -less

politeness), unequal vs inequality, The only negative suffix in

unjust vs injustice, unstable vs English is the suffix -less. It comes

instability. from the Old English word leas,

meaning "without". In Old English

5. Negative Prefix Anti-
and Middle English, -less was
Negative prefiks anti- is
often used to convey the negative
derived from the Greek which
or opposite of words ending in -ful,
is used to denote the opposite
as in careful - careless, colourful -
of something. In general, anti-
colourless, doubtful —doubtless,
attached to nouns and
fearful —fearless, fruitful —fruit-
adjectives, such as anti-
less, helpful - helpless, hopeful -
submarine “against the
hopeless, meaningful - meaning-
submarines”, anti-aircraft
less, useful - useless.
‘describes weapons, equipment

or activities that are intended to

destroy or defend against

enemy aircraft’, anti-terrorist,

antisocial, anti-clockwise
Conclusion
“direction opposite clockwise”,
There are six affixes as
and antifreeze.
negation markers in English; dis-, in-,

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non-, un-, anti-, and –less. There are ir- variety can be added to some words

only two afixes that categorized into beginning with the consonants /r/.

native English; un- and –less . Affixes Prefix in- has various meanings such

dis- (Latin) found in adjectives, verbs as, not, opposite of , without and

and abstract nouns. The prefix dis- has lacking.

a negative meaning (pure negative) Prefix non- is from Latin.

such as ‘against’, 'lack of something Prefix non- is attached to adjectives

or 'not'. Prefix dis- is generally more ending -al, -ible, -ic, -ing, -ous,

reflective the opposite forms than adverbs and nouns. The prefix un- is

contradictory forms. attached to adjectives and nouns, and

can be attached to verbs and nouns to

Negation prefix in- is specially
form verbs. Prefix non- has basic
attached to an adjective beginning with
meaning “not” and “without”. The
the sounds / b/, /l/, /m/, /p/, or /t/.
spelling of the prefix non- which
Prefix in- comes from Latin. Prefix in-
appears in the older texts, dictionaries,
is essentially has basic meaning "not".
textbooks, and other materials was
Based on the rules of Latin phonology,
strictly written with hypen, today it
prefix in- has four forms, in-, im-, il-,
more and more written together with
and ir-. Affix in- chnges into im-
word it negates (very frequent in
before consonant / b /, /m/ and /p /,
American English), or both varieties
before words starting with the letter ‘l’,
are used. It means that Frence non- of
in- changes into il-. The allomorphic
Latin origin is not felt foreign in

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English any more and it is being negative prefix anti- is attcahed to

anglicitized. nouns and adjectives.

The prefix un- is native English The only negative suffix in

which is used for negation. In Old English is –less. This suffix has basic

English prefix un- has a role very meaning “without”. This suffix is to

productive, especially in the adjective. convey the negative or opposite of

Prefix un- has basic meaning “not”. words ending in –ful.

The negative prefix un- chiefly

attaches to simple adjectives with a

References
native basis. Many derived adjectives
Dzuganova. 2006. “Negative Affixes in
also take this prefix. The denominal
Medical English”. Foreign
derivative are chiefly characterized by
Language Department
the suffixes –ed, -y, -ly, -ful, -al, -ish, -
Jessenius faculty of Medicine,
(i)ous, -worthy. Deverbal derivatives
Comenius University, Martin,
are likewise common. They are all
Slovakia.
formed with the suffix –able. Prefix

un- is also attached to adjectives made Greenbaum, Sidney & Randolph

of participles. Quirk.1973. A University

Prefix anti- is originally from Grammar of English. London:

Greek. This prefix has basic meaning Longman Group Limited.

“opposed to; against”. In general, this

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Jesperson, Otto. 1971. Negation in Rakhmania, Ria. 2009. “A comparison

Englsih and Other Languages. between English and

A.F. Host. Indonesian negation marker”.

Jakarta: Universitas
Quirk et al. A Comprehensive
Gunadarma.
Grammar of the English

Language. Longman 1985, The 0xford Encyclopedic English

1540-1541. Dictionary. Oxford, University Press

1991.

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