Morphology Exercises II

Part I

1. Identify the free morphemes in the following words:

kissed, freedom, stronger, follow, awe, goodness, talkative, teacher, actor.
2. Use the words above (and any other words that you think are relevant) to answer the
following questions:
a) Can a morpheme be represented by a single phoneme? Give examples. By more
than one phoneme? Give exa mples.
b) Can a free morpheme be more than one syllable in length? Give
examples. Can a bound morpheme? Give examples.
c) Does the same letter or phoneme—or sequence of letters or phonemes—always
represent the same morpheme? Why or why not?
(Hint: you must refer to the definition of morpheme to be able to
answer this.)
d) Can the same morpheme be spelled differently? Give examples.
e) Can different morphemes be pronounced identically? Give examples.
f) A morpheme is basically the same as:
i. a letter
ii. a sound
iii. a group of sounds
iv. none of the above
3. The words district and discipline show that the sequence of letters
d-i-s does not always constitute a morpheme. (Analogous examples are
mission, missile, begin, and retrofit.) List five more sequences of letters that are
sometimes a morpheme and sometimes not.

4. Can an English word have more than one prefix? Give examples. More than one
suffix? For example? More than one of each? Give examples. Divide the examples you
collected into their root, derivational, and inflectional morphemes.

Part II

1.True or False?
a) Every English word contains at least one root.
b) In English, derivational morphemes occur before inflectional morphemes.
c) In English, derivational suffixes regularly occur before inflectional suffixes.
d) In English, a few inflectional morphemes can occur as prefixes.
e) Every root in English is a free morpheme (i.e., there is no such
thing as a bound root.) (Hint: consider receive, deceive, conceive, perceive.)
2. In a broad phonetic (phonemic) transcription, transcribe the
sounds represented by the bolded letters in impossible, inedible, illegible, irresponsible.
a) What meaning do these pairs of letters have in common?
b) What is the first sound in all four pairs of sounds?
c) What are the second sounds in the pairs of sounds?
d) Why does the second sound vary as it does?

Part III

1. For each set of words below, say whether the words are endocentric,
exocentric, or coordinative compounds. Justify your identification.
a) redneck, yellowjacket, cocktail, blackhead
b) armchair, breathtest, rockopera
c) secretary-treasurer, scholar-administrator

2. Use brackets with subscripts to represent the internal structure of the words below.
Eg. Dropouts [N[N[Vdrop][Pr tout]]s].

retry, sinkable, thoughtless, meaningfulness, microorganisms.

Part IV

1. Can we have morphology without morpheme? Why?

2. Affixation – the central domain of morphology. Demonstrate that (give
example)
a) Prefixation resembles suffixation
b) Prefixation resembles compounding
c) Prefixation is like neoclassical compounding
d) Prefixation is like backformation
e) Suffixation is like neoclassical compounding
f) Suffixation is like conversion
g) Suffixation is like backformation
h) Backformation is like conversion
i) Backformation is like clipping
j) Neoclassical compounding is like compounding
k) Neoclassical compounding is like blending
l) Blends are like acronyms
3. Define and give examples
a) Colloquial language
b) Slang
c) Register

Obs: Please, form study groups to do this exercise.

 ANSWERS

1. Identify the free morphemes in the following words:

kissed, freedom, stronger, follow, awe, goodness, talkative, teacher, actor.

The free morphemes in the given words are:

kissed: kiss

freedom: free

stronger: strong

follow: follow

awe: awe

goodness: good

talkative: talk

teacher: teach

actor: act

a) Yes, a morpheme can be represented by a single phoneme. Examples include the

morpheme /s/ in the plural form of nouns (e.g., cats) and the morpheme /z/ in the
possessive form of nouns (e.g., dogs').

A morpheme can also be represented by more than one phoneme. For example, the
morpheme /əz/ in the plural form of verbs (e.g., watches) consists of two phonemes.

b) Yes, a free morpheme can be more than one syllable in length. For example, the word
"teacher" has two syllables and consists of the free morphemes "teach" and "er." A
bound morpheme can also be more than one syllable, such as the bound morpheme "-
able" in the word "sinkable."

c) No, the same letter or phoneme (or sequence of letters or phonemes) does not always
represent the same morpheme. Morphemes are abstract units of meaning, and their
representation in written or spoken language can vary. For example, the morpheme
meaning "plural" can be represented by different letters or phonemes in different words,
such as the "-s" in "cats" and the "-en" in "children."
d) Yes, the same morpheme can be spelled differently. For example, the past tense
morpheme can be spelled as "-ed" in "kissed" and as "-t" in "talked."

e) Yes, different morphemes can be pronounced identically. For example, the word
"bark" can refer to the sound a dog makes (a free morpheme), or it can refer to the outer
covering of a tree (a bound morpheme).

f) A morpheme is basically the same as:

iv. none of the above

Five sequences of letters that are sometimes a morpheme and sometimes not:

dis: e.g., district (morpheme: dis-, meaning "apart"), discipline (morpheme: dis-,
meaning "not")

mis: e.g., mission (morpheme: mis-, meaning "wrong"), missile (morpheme: mis-,
meaning "wrong")

be: e.g., begin (morpheme: be-, meaning "start"), become (morpheme: be-, meaning
"cause to be")

re: e.g., retrofit (morpheme: re-, meaning "again"), revisit (morpheme: re-, meaning
"again")

in: e.g., input (morpheme: in-, meaning "into"), income (morpheme: in-, meaning "not")

Yes, an English word can have more than one prefix, suffix, or both:

Prefixes: un- + re- + do = undoable

Suffixes: teach + -er + -s = teachers

Both prefixes and suffixes: un- + read + -able + -ness = unreadableness

Examples divided into root, derivational, and inflectional morphemes:

Root: read (base form)

Derivational prefixes: un- (negation)

Derivational suffixes: -able (adjective-forming), -ness (noun-forming)

Inflectional suffixes: -er (comparative), -s (plural)

Part II

User

1. Can we have morphology without morpheme? Why?

No, we cannot have morphology without morphemes. Morphology is the study of the
internal structure and formation of words, and morphemes are the smallest meaningful
units of language. Morphemes carry semantic or grammatical information and are
combined to create words. Without morphemes, there would be no basis for analyzing
and understanding word formation and meaning within a language. Morphemes are
essential components of morphology and serve as the building blocks for word
construction and interpretation
Prefixation resembles suffixation:
Example: The word "unhappiness" can be formed by adding the prefix "un-" to the base
word "happiness." Similarly, the word "happily" can be formed by adding the suffix "-
ly" to the base word "happy." In both cases, a derivational affix is added to the base
word to create a new word.

b) Prefixation resembles compounding:

Example: The word "preheat" is formed by combining the prefix "pre-" and the base
word "heat." Similarly, the word "microwave" is formed by combining the prefix

"micro-" and the base word "wave." In both cases, two or more morphemes are
combined to create a new word.

c) Prefixation is like neoclassical compounding:

Example: The word "telecommunication" is formed by combining the prefix "tele-"

(meaning "distance") and the base word "communication." Similarly, the word
"macroeconomics" is formed by combining the prefix "macro-" (meaning "large") and
the base word "economics." In both cases, a prefix derived from classical languages is
added to a base word to create a new word.

d) Prefixation is like backformation:

Example: The word "edit" is formed by removing the suffix "-or" from the word
"editor." Similarly, the word "analyze" is formed by removing the suffix "-sis" from the
word "analysis." In both cases, a new word is created by removing an affix from an
existing word.

e) Suffixation is like neoclassical compounding:

Example: The word "geography" is formed by combining the base word "graphy"
(meaning "writing" or "description") and the suffix "-geo" (meaning "earth"). Similarly,
the word "biology" is formed by combining the base word "logy" (meaning "study of")
and the suffix "-bio" (meaning "life"). In both cases, a suffix derived from classical
languages is added to a base word to create a new word.
f) Suffixation is like conversion:

Example: The word "bottle" can function as both a noun (e.g., "I bought a bottle of
water") and a verb (e.g., "I will bottle the homemade sauce"). Similarly, the word
"hammer" can be used as both a noun (e.g., "He used a hammer to fix the shelf") and a
verb (e.g., "She will hammer the nails into the wall"). In both cases, the word's
grammatical category changes without the addition of any affixes.

g) Suffixation is like backformation:

Example: The word "donate" is formed by removing the suffix "-ion" from the word
"donation." Similarly, the word "televise" is formed by removing the suffix "-ion" from
the word "television." In both cases, a new word is created by removing a suffix from an
existing word.

h) Backformation is like conversion:

Example: The word "televise" was created through backformation by removing the
suffix "-ion" from the word "television." Similarly, the word "burgle" was formed by
backformation from the noun "burglar." In both cases, a new word is created by
removing an affix to derive a base word.

i) Backformation is like clipping:

Example: The word "edit" is formed through backformation by removing the suffix "-
or" from the word "editor." Similarly, the word "fax" is formed by backformation from
the noun "fax machine." In both cases, a shorter word is created by removing a part of
an existing
Adjective-Making Morphemes:
-ful (e.g., beautiful, helpful)

-less (e.g., fearless, endless)

-ish (e.g., reddish, childish)

-able/-ible (e.g., readable, visible)

-ic (e.g., poetic, heroic)

-y (e.g., sunny, happy)

Noun-Making Morphemes:
-er/-or (e.g., teacher, actor)

-ment (e.g., development, excitement)

-tion/-sion (e.g., celebration, discussion)

-ity/-ty (e.g., integrity, curiosity)

-ness (e.g., happiness, darkness)

-hood (e.g., childhood, motherhood)

Verb-Making Morphemes:
-ify/-fy (e.g., simplify, beautify)

-ate (e.g., communicate, activate)

-en (e.g., widen, deepen)

-ize/-ise (e.g., organize, realize)

-en (e.g., strengthen, lengthen)

-ify/-fy (e.g., classify, justify

Colloquial language: Colloquial language refers to the informal, everyday
language used in casual conversations or informal settings. It typically includes words,
phrases, and expressions that are common among a specific group or community.
Colloquial language often deviates from formal grammar rules and may involve
regional variations or cultural influences.

Example: "Hey, wanna grab a bite?" (instead of "Would you like to have a meal?")

b) Slang: Slang refers to informal words, phrases, and expressions that are specific
to a particular social group, subculture, or generation. Slang is characterized by its
dynamic and evolving nature, often influenced by popular culture, technology, or
current trends. It is often used to create a sense of camaraderie or exclusivity among
those who understand and use it.

Example: "That party was lit!" (meaning "That party was exciting and fun!")

c) Register: Register refers to the variation in language style and vocabulary that is
determined by factors such as the context, social setting, and audience. It involves
adapting one's language to suit a particular situation or formality level, ranging from
formal to informal. Different registers are used in different contexts, such as academic
writing, business communication, or casual conversations.

Example: The language used in a legal document will have a formal register, with
precise and technical vocabulary, while the language used in a friendly email to a
colleague may have a more informal register with familiar language and abbreviations
(e.g., "Hi" instead of "Dear").
Can a free morpheme be more than one syllable in length?
GiveExamples
Yes, a free morpheme can certainly be more than one syllable in length. A free
morpheme is a morpheme that can stand alone as a word and carries its own meaning.
Here are some examples of free morphemes that consist of more than one syllable:

"Table" - The word "table" is a free morpheme that consists of two syllables: /ˈteɪ.bəl/.
It carries its own meaning and can function as a standalone word.

"Guitar" - "Guitar" is another example of a free morpheme that consists of two

syllables: /ɡɪˈtɑr/. It can stand alone and refers to a musical instrument.

"Telephone" - "Telephone" is a free morpheme that consists of three syllables: /ˈtɛl.ə

ˌfoʊn/. It carries its own meaning as a communication device.

Can a bound morphemebe more than one syllable in length?

Give examples.
No, a bound morpheme cannot be more than one syllable in length. Bound morphemes
are morphemes that cannot stand alone as independent words and must be attached to
other morphemes to convey meaning. They can be prefixes or suffixes.

Bound morphemes are typically single syllables, as they are attached to other
morphemes to create words. Here are some examples of bound morphemes:

"Un-" - The prefix "un-" is a bound morpheme that indicates negation or reversal. It has
a single syllable and is attached to adjectives or verbs to create words such as
"unhappy" or "undo."

"-ed" - The suffix "-ed" is a bound morpheme that signifies the past tense or past
participle of a verb. It also has a single syllable and is attached to the base form of a
verb, as in "walked" or "cooked."

"-ness" - The suffix "-ness" is a bound morpheme that forms abstract nouns indicating a
state or quality. It has a single syllable and is attached to adjectives, such as "happiness"
or "kindness."

"-ly" - The suffix "-ly" is a bound morpheme that creates adverbs from adjectives. It has
a single syllable and is attached to adjectives like "quickly" or "beautifully."

In each of these examples, the bound morphemes are single syllables and cannot
function as standalone words. They derive meaning when combined with other
morphemes to form complete words.
Can the same morpheme be spelled differently? Give
examples
Yes, the same morpheme can sometimes be spelled differently based on the phonetic
and orthographic conventions of a language. Here are some examples of morphemes
that can be spelled differently in English:

Plural morpheme "-s": The plural morpheme "-s" can be spelled differently depending
on the ending sound of the word it is attached to. For example:

"cats" (ending in /s/)

"dogs" (ending in /z/)

"boxes" (ending in /ɪz/)

Past tense morpheme "-ed": The past tense morpheme "-ed" can be spelled differently
based on the final sound of the verb. For example:

"walked" (ending in /kt/)

"cooked" (ending in /kt/)

"played" (ending in /d/)

Comparative morpheme "-er": The comparative morpheme "-er" can have different
spellings based on the word it is attached to. For example:

"bigger" (with a double 'g')

"faster" (with a single 's')

"hotter" (with a double 't')

Can different morphemes be pronounced identically? Give
examples.
Yes, it is possible for different morphemes to be pronounced identically in English. This
phenomenon is known as homophony, where different morphemes or words have the
same pronunciation but differ in meaning and/or spelling. Here are some examples:

"Their" and "There": These are two different morphemes that are pronounced the same
(/ðɛər/), but they have distinct meanings. "Their" is a possessive determiner indicating
ownership, while "There" is an adverb indicating a location or existence.

"To" and "Too": Both of these morphemes are pronounced as /tuː/, but they have
different meanings. "To" is a preposition indicating direction or purpose, while "Too" is
an adverb meaning also or in excess.

"Piece" and "Peace": These morphemes are pronounced the same (/piːs/), but they have
different meanings. "Piece" refers to a portion or part of something, while "Peace" refers
to a state of tranquility or absence of conflict.

"Flour" and "Flower": Although spelled differently, these morphemes are homophones
(/flaʊər/). "Flour" refers to a fine powder made from grinding grains, while "Flower"
refers to the reproductive part of a plant.

Marry" and "Merry": These morphemes are homophones (/ˈmɛri/), but they have
distinct meanings. "Marry" is a verb that refers to the act of getting married, while
"Merry" is an adjective meaning cheerful or festive.

"Flower" and "Flour": These morphemes, as mentioned earlier, are homophones

(/ˈflaʊər/). "Flower" refers to the reproductive part of a plant, while "Flour" is a
substance used in baking and cooking.

"Cell" and "Sell": These morphemes are homophones (/sɛl/), but they have different
meanings. "Cell" refers to a small unit or compartment, such as a biological cell or a
prison cell, while "Sell" is a verb meaning to transfer ownership of something in
exchange for money.

In each of these examples, different morphemes are pronounced identically, which

can lead to ambiguity in spoken language. Context and surrounding words are
crucial in understanding the intended meaning.
List of sequences of letters that are sometimes a morpheme
and sometimes not.
"Un-": The sequence of letters "un-" can function as a productive prefix in English,
indicating negation or reversal. For example, "undo," "unhappy," and "untie" are words
where "un-" serves as a morpheme. However, in other cases, "un-" may be part of a
word without contributing a distinct meaning, such as in "understand" or "until."

"Pre-": The sequence of letters "pre-" can function as a prefix indicating something that
occurs before or prior to a certain event or time. For example, "preview," "preheat," and
"prelude" contain "pre-" as a morpheme. However, in words like "press" or "pretend,"
"pre-" is not serving as a separate morpheme.

"Anti-": The sequence of letters "anti-" can function as a prefix denoting opposition or
against something. For instance, "antibiotic," "antifungal," and "antitrust" include
"anti-" as a morpheme. Yet, in words like "ant" or "anthem," "anti-" does not have a
separate meaning.

"Non-": The sequence of letters "non-" can function as a prefix indicating the absence
or negation of something. For example, "nonexistent," "nonstop," and "nonsense"
contain "non-" as a morpheme. However, in words like "none" or "nondescript," "non-"
does not function as a distinct morpheme.

These examples highlight that the same sequence of letters can serve as a
meaningful morpheme in certain contexts but not in others. The interpretation of a
sequence of letters as a morpheme depends on its position within a word and the
associated meaning it conveys in that specific context.
1. True or False?

a) Every English word contains at least one root.

b) In English, derivational morphemes occur before inflectional

morphemes.

c) In English, derivational suffixes regularly occur before inflectional

suffixes.

d) In English, a few inflectional morphemes can occur as prefixes.

e) Every root in English is a free morpheme (i.e., there is no such

thing as a bound root.) (Hint: consider receive, deceive, conceive,

perceive.)
a) False. Not every English word contains a root. Some words are made up entirely of
affixes, such as "unhappiness" or "disestablishmentarianism," where the entire word
consists of prefixes and suffixes without an identifiable root.

b) True. In English, derivational morphemes typically occur before inflectional

morphemes. Derivational morphemes change the meaning or part of speech of a word,
and they often occur closer to the root or base. Inflectional morphemes, on the other
hand, modify the grammatical function or indicate tense, number, etc., and they
generally come after derivational morphemes.

c) False. In English, derivational suffixes more commonly occur after the root or base.
For example, in the word "carelessness," the derivational suffix "-ness" follows the root
"careless." However, there are exceptions where derivational suffixes can occur before
inflectional suffixes, such as in "unhappier" where the derivational suffix "-er"
(comparative) comes before the inflectional suffix "-er" (comparative).

d) True. While inflectional morphemes in English are typically suffixes, there are a few
inflectional morphemes that can occur as prefixes. For instance, the plural marker "un-"
can function as a prefix in words like "uncountable" or "unforeseen," indicating the
negation or reversal of the base meaning.

e) False. Not every root in English is a free morpheme. There are bound roots in
English, which are roots that cannot stand alone as independent words but must be
combined with other morphemes to form words. The examples given in the hint -
"receive," "deceive," "conceive," and "perceive" - all contain bound roots ("ceive") that
cannot function as free morphemes on their own.
 In a broad phonetic (phonemic) transcription, transcribe the

Sounds represented by the bolded letters in impossible, inedible,

illegible, irresponsible.
impossible: /ɪmˈpɑːsəbəl

inedible: /ɪnˈɛdəbəl

illegible: /ɪˈlɛdʒəbəl/

irresponsible: /ˌɪrɪsˈpɑːnsəbəl

The pairs of letters "im," "in," "il," and "ir" in the words "impossible," "inedible,"
"illegible," and "irresponsible" have a common meaning. They are all prefixes that
indicate negation or a negative meaning.

The pairs of letters "im-" and "in-" function as negative prefixes indicating "not" or
"lack of." For example, "impossible" means "not possible," and "inedible" means "not
edible."

The pairs of letters "il-" and "ir-" also function as negative prefixes, but they are less
common than "im-" and "in-." For example, "illegible" means "not legible," and
"irresponsible" means "not responsible."

In summary, the common meaning of these pairs of letters is negation or a negative

sense. They change the meaning of the words to express the absence or opposite of
what the base word represents.

When we store stems and affixes separately in our mental lexicon, the process
of putting them together to form words is known as morphological processing.
This involves retrieving the appropriate stem and affixes and combining them in
the correct order. The order in which the affixes are attached to the stem
depends on the language's morphological rules.

The order of affixation can vary across languages, and different languages may
have different preferences for prefixation, suffixation, or infixation. Here are two
common patterns:

1. Prefixation: In languages that primarily use prefixes, the prefix is attached before
the stem. For example, in English, the prefix "un-" is attached to the stem
"happy" to form the word "unhappy."
2. Suffixation: In languages that primarily use suffixes, the suffix is attached after
the stem. For example, in English, the suffix "-able" is attached to the stem
"read" to form the word "readable."
It's important to note that not all languages follow a strict order of affixation.
Some languages allow for multiple affixes to be attached to the stem
simultaneously, while others have specific rules regarding the order of affixes.

During morphological processing, our mental lexicon retrieves the appropriate

stem and the affixes associated with it based on the word form we intend to
produce or comprehend. This process occurs rapidly and automatically as we
access the stored morphological information in our mental lexicon.

define base and morph in english morphology

ChatGPT

In English morphology, the terms "base" and "morph" refer to fundamental units of
meaning and form within words.

Base: The base is the central part of a word to which affixes (prefixes or suffixes) can
be added. It carries the core meaning of the word and is typically a morpheme—a
meaningful linguistic unit. The base can be a root, which is a morpheme that cannot be
further divided into smaller meaningful units, or it can be a stem, which is a morpheme
that can undergo additional modifications.

For example:

In the word "untied," the base is "tie," which carries the meaning of fastening or
binding.

In the word "bookshelf," the base is "book," which represents the object or concept of a
book.

Morph: A morph is the smallest meaningful unit of language. It can be a single word or
a part of a word that carries meaning or grammatical function. Morphs can be free
morphemes or bound morphemes.

Free morphemes: These are standalone words that can function independently and carry
meaning on their own. For example, "book" and "run" are free morphemes.
Bound morphemes: These are morphemes that cannot function as separate words and
are typically attached to a base or another morpheme to modify its meaning or
grammatical role. Bound morphemes can be prefixes, suffixes, or infixes. For example,
the prefix "un-" in "untied" changes the meaning of the base "tie" to indicate the
opposite or negation.

It's important to note that a morph can be a base itself or can be part of a larger base
within a word. The study of morphemes and their combination forms the basis of
morphological analysis in linguistics.

User

in the word children, child is the singular form whereas en is the plural morpheme. what
do you call the surplus word-building element r?

ChatGPT

In the word "children," the base or root is "child," which represents the singular form.
The plural morpheme "-en" is added to the base to indicate the plural form. However,
the element "r" in "children" is not a surplus word-building element. Instead, it is a
phonological process known as epenthesis.

Epenthesis is the insertion of a sound or letter into a word, often to facilitate

pronunciation or to conform to the phonological patterns of a language. In the case of
"children," the "r" sound is inserted between the base "child" and the plural morpheme
"-en" to improve the flow and pronunciation of the word. It is not a morpheme with a
specific meaning or grammatical function but rather a phonological adjustment.
User

what is the different between epenthesis and suppletion?

ChatGPT

Epenthesis and suppletion are both linguistic processes that involve changes to words,
but they operate in different ways and serve different purposes:

Epenthesis: Epenthesis is a phonological process that involves the insertion of a sound

or letter into a word. It occurs to facilitate pronunciation or to conform to the
phonological patterns of a language. The added sound or letter may not have a specific
meaning or grammatical function but is inserted to improve the flow or ease of
pronunciation. Epenthesis often occurs to break up consonant clusters or to satisfy
specific phonotactic constraints in a language.

For example:

In English, some speakers may insert an extra vowel sound, such as an "uh" sound,
between a word that ends with a consonant and a word that begins with a consonant,
e.g., "a black cat" pronounced as "a buhlack cat."

In Spanish, the word "cinco" (five) may be pronounced as "cinko" with an added /k/
sound for easier pronunciation.

Suppletion: Suppletion refers to a morphological phenomenon where an entirely

different word form is used to express different grammatical categories or meanings,
rather than adding affixes or following regular morphological rules. Suppletion involves
the replacement of a word or a morpheme with an unrelated form to indicate a specific
grammatical distinction.

For example:

In English, the verb "go" undergoes suppletion to form different tenses. The present
tense is "go," the past tense is "went," and the future tense is "will go." Instead of
following a regular pattern of adding suffixes or modifying the root, completely
different words are used.

In the comparison of adjectives, the adjective "good" has the suppletive forms "better"
(comparative) and "best" (superlative), which do not follow the regular pattern of
adding "-er" or "-est" suffixes.
In summary, epenthesis involves the insertion of sounds or letters into words for
phonological reasons, while suppletion involves the replacement of words or
morphemes with unrelated forms to express specific grammatical distinctions.

User

why the choice of allomorphs is phonological conditioned in the word following?

cups, houses, rooms

ChatGPT

The choice of allomorphs in the words "cups," "houses," and "rooms" is phonologically
conditioned because it depends on the specific phonological context or environment in
which the morpheme occurs. Allomorphs are different phonetic or phonological
realizations of the same morpheme.

In English, the plural morpheme "-s" has three different allomorphs: /s/, /z/, and /ɪz/.
The selection of the appropriate allomorph is determined by the phonological
characteristics of the preceding sounds in the word.

Here are some general rules for the selection of the plural allomorph:

/s/ allomorph:

Used after voiceless consonants (sounds produced without vibration of the vocal cords)
like /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /θ/, etc.

Examples: cups, cats, books

/z/ allomorph:
Used after voiced sounds (sounds produced with vibration of the vocal cords) like
vowels, voiced consonants, and fricatives like /v/, /d/, /g/, /b/, /m/, /n/, /l/, /r/, /w/, /j/,
etc.

Examples: houses, dogs, birds

/ɪz/ allomorph:

Used after sibilant sounds (hissing or buzzing sounds) like /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /tʃ/, and /dʒ/.

Examples: boxes, wishes, bridges

Therefore, in the words "cups," "houses," and "rooms," the choice of the specific
allomorph ("-s," "-z," or "-ɪz") depends on the phonological context created by the final
sounds of the preceding words: /p/ in "cups," /z/ in "houses," and /mz/ in "rooms." The
allomorphs are selected to maintain phonological harmony and ease of pronunciation.

User

there exist a few morphemes whose allomorphs show no phonectic similarities. give one
example

ChatGPT

One example of morphemes whose allomorphs show no phonetic similarities is the

English plural morpheme "-en."

In certain cases, the plural form of a word is marked by adding "-en" instead of the more
common "-s" or "-es" morphemes. However, the allomorph "-en" does not have any
phonetic similarity to the base form of the word it modifies.

For example:

"Child" (singular) becomes "Children" (plural)

"Ox" (singular) becomes "Oxen" (plural)

In these cases, the "-en" allomorph is used to mark the plural form, but it does not share
any phonetic similarities with the base form of the word. This example illustrates that
allomorphs can vary significantly in their phonetic realization, even when representing
the same morpheme and expressing the same grammatical function.

User

mention three ways of distinguishing compounding and phtase

ChatGPT

Distinguishing between compounding and phrases can be done by considering three key
aspects: form, meaning, and syntax. Here are three ways to differentiate between
compounding and phrases:

Form:

Compounding: In compound words, two or more words are combined to create a new
word. The constituent words can retain their individual forms, and they are typically
written together without any added function words or inflections. Examples include
"blackboard," "lifeguard," and "sunglasses."

Phrase: In a phrase, multiple words come together to express a concept, but they do not
create a new word. The words in a phrase are typically separated by spaces, and they
can include function words or inflections. Examples include "in the morning," "under
the table," and "on the way."

Meaning:

Compounding: In compounds, the meaning of the whole word is often a combination or

modification of the meanings of the constituent words. The compound may represent a
new concept or a more specific sense of the individual words. For example,
"blackboard" refers to a specific type of board used for writing with chalk.

Phrase: In a phrase, the meaning is usually derived from the combination of words, but
the individual words retain their individual meanings. The phrase conveys a broader or
more nuanced meaning that may not be directly deduced from the individual words. For
example, "under the table" means "secretly" or "illegally."

Syntax:

Compounding: Compounds often exhibit characteristics of a single word in terms of

syntax. They can function as nouns, verbs, adjectives, or other parts of speech, and they
can participate in the regular inflectional and derivational processes of the language. For
example, in the compound "greenhouse," the word can be modified by adding "-s" to
indicate plural ("greenhouses").

Phrase: Phrases typically follow the rules of syntax, with the constituent words
maintaining their individual syntactic roles. The words within a phrase can be replaced
or modified independently without affecting the overall structure. For example, in the
phrase "on the way," you can replace "on" with "in" or "under" and still maintain a
grammatical structure.

By considering these aspects of form, meaning, and syntax, one can differentiate
between compounding, where words combine to form a new word, and phrases, where
words come together to express a concept without forming a new word.

User

the compounds peanut oil and alive oil are oils made from something but baby oil is
nota kind of oilmade from a baby. similarly, horse meat is meat from horses but dog
meat is meat for the dogs. explain this contracdiction

ChatGPT

The apparent contradiction you mentioned arises from the fact that the meaning of
compound words is not always predictable solely based on the meanings of their
constituent parts. It demonstrates that the meaning of a compound can be idiosyncratic
and not necessarily a literal combination of the individual words.

"Peanut oil" and "olive oil": In these compounds, the first word ("peanut" or "olive")
specifies the source or origin of the oil. "Peanut oil" is oil extracted from peanuts, and
"olive oil" is oil extracted from olives. In these cases, the compound reflects the source
from which the oil is obtained.

"Baby oil": The compound "baby oil" does not refer to oil extracted from babies or
made from babies. Instead, it is a specialized type of oil that is typically used for
moisturizing and massaging babies. The term "baby" in "baby oil" indicates the
intended use of the oil, rather than its source or composition. It serves as a descriptor for
the type of oil specifically designed for use on babies' skin.

"Horse meat" and "dog meat": These compounds follow a similar pattern to "peanut oil"
and "olive oil." "Horse meat" refers to meat obtained from horses, and "dog meat" refers
to meat obtained from dogs. In these cases, the compound reflects the source or origin
of the meat.

The variability in the meanings of compound words is a result of the complex nature of
language and the ways in which words and their meanings can interact. The meanings
of compounds can be influenced by cultural factors, conventional usage, and historical
developments. Therefore, it is important to consider the context and conventional usage
of compound words rather than relying solely on the literal interpretation of their
constituent parts.

User

what are the affixes close to the root and not close to the root in the word: independently

ChatGPT

In the word "independently," the root is "depend." It is important to note that the word
"depend" is actually a bound root, as it cannot function independently as a word on its
own. However, for the purpose of analyzing affixes in "independently," we will
consider "depend" as the root.
The affixes in "independently" can be categorized as follows:

Affixes close to the root ("depend"):

"in-" is a prefix attached directly to the root "depend." It negates the meaning of the
root, indicating the absence or opposite of dependence.

"-ent" is a suffix that follows the root "depend." It forms an adjective from the root,
indicating the quality or state of being related to dependence.

Affixes not close to the root ("depend"):

"in-" is the first part of the compound prefix "independent." Although it is attached to
the root "depend," it is separated from it by the second part of the prefix, which is "de."
Together, they form the compound prefix "independent," indicating a lack of
dependence.

"-ly" is a suffix that is not directly attached to the root "depend." It is attached to the
adjective "independent" (formed by the combination of the compound prefix and the
root) to form the adverb "independently." It modifies the adjective to indicate the
manner in which an action is performed.

To summarize, the affixes close to the root "depend" in "independently" are the prefix
"in-" and the suffix "-ent." The affixes not close to the root are the compound prefix
"in-" (combined with the second part of the prefix, "de-") and the suffix "-ly."

User

list affixes close to the and not close to the

ChatGPT

In order to provide a comprehensive list of affixes close

User

list affixes close to the and not close to the root

ChatGPT
Certainly! Here is a list of affixes close to the root and not
close to the root, along with their respective positions in
relation to the root:

Affixes close to the root:

Prefixes:

"Un-" (e.g., unhappy, uncertain): Negates the meaning of the root.

"Re-" (e.g., redo, rebuild): Indicates repetition or restoration of the root.

"Pre-" (e.g., prepay, predict): Indicates priority, anteriority, or previousness of the root.

Suffixes:

"-er" (e.g., worker, teacher): Indicates a person or thing that performs the action of the
root.

"-ing" (e.g., running, singing): Indicates an ongoing action or state related to the root.

"-ed" (e.g., played, loved): Indicates the past tense or past participle form of the root.

Affixes not close to the root:

Compound prefixes:

"Non-" (e.g., nonfiction, nonverbal): Indicates negation, absence, or exclusion of the

concept represented by the root.

"Mis-" (e.g., misunderstand, misinterpret): Indicates a wrong, incorrect, or mistaken

action related to the root.

Compound suffixes:

"-able" (e.g., readable, washable): Indicates the capability or potential of the root.

"-ment" (e.g., development, statement): Forms a noun denoting the result or product of
the action represented by the root.

It's important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, as English has a vast array of
prefixes and suffixes that can be attached to roots. The examples provided here are just
a selection to illustrate the concept of affixes close to and not close to the root.

User

list affixes close to the root and not close to the root, bring many

ChatGPT

Sure! Here are more examples of affixes close to the root and not close to the root:

Affixes close to the root:

Prefixes:
"Dis-" (e.g., disconnect, disapprove): Indicates negation or reversal of the action
represented by the root.

"Co-" (e.g., coexist, cooperate): Indicates joint action or partnership related to the root.

"Ex-" (e.g., exhale, exclaim): Indicates movement out of or away from the root.

Suffixes:

"-ful" (e.g., beautiful, playful): Indicates fullness, abundance, or characterized by the

root.

"-ness" (e.g., happiness, darkness): Forms a noun denoting the state, condition, or
quality of the root.

"-ly" (e.g., quickly, softly): Forms an adverb indicating the manner in which an action is
performed.

Affixes not close to the root:

Compound prefixes:

"Anti-" (e.g., anti-inflammatory, antisocial): Indicates opposition or against the concept

represented by the root.

"Over-" (e.g., overconfident, overestimate): Indicates excess or beyond the normal

limits related to the root.

"Out-" (e.g., outnumber, outperform): Indicates surpassing or exceeding the action of

the root.

Compound suffixes:

"-ish" (e.g., reddish, childish): Indicates resemblance or similarity to the root.

"-able" (e.g., washable, readable): Indicates the ability or capacity of the root.

"-less" (e.g., endless, fearless): Indicates the absence or lack of the quality represented
by the root.

Remember, this list is not exhaustive, but it provides a variety of examples of affixes
close to and not close to the root.
User

all

ChatGPT

Certainly! Here's a more comprehensive list of affixes close to the root and not close to
the root:

Affixes close to the root:

Prefixes:

"Un-" (e.g., unhappy, uncertain): Negates the meaning of the root.

"Re-" (e.g., redo, rebuild): Indicates repetition or restoration of the root.

"Pre-" (e.g., prepay, predict): Indicates priority, anteriority, or previousness of the root.

"Dis-" (e.g., disconnect, disapprove): Indicates negation or reversal of the action

represented by the root.

"Co-" (e.g., coexist, cooperate): Indicates joint action or partnership related to the root.

"Ex-" (e.g., exhale, exclaim): Indicates movement out of or away from the root.

Suffixes:

"-er" (e.g., worker, teacher): Indicates a person or thing that performs the action of the
root.

"-ing" (e.g., running, singing): Indicates an ongoing action or state related to the root.

"-ed" (e.g., played, loved): Indicates the past tense or past participle form of the root.

"-ful" (e.g., beautiful, playful): Indicates fullness, abundance, or characterized by the

root.
"-ness" (e.g., happiness, darkness): Forms a noun denoting the state, condition, or
quality of the root.

"-ly" (e.g., quickly, softly): Forms an adverb indicating the manner in which an action is
performed.

Affixes not close to the root:

Compound prefixes:

"Non-" (e.g., nonfiction, nonverbal): Indicates negation, absence, or exclusion of the

concept represented by the root.

"Mis-" (e.g., misunderstand, misinterpret): Indicates a wrong, incorrect, or mistaken

action related to the root.

"Anti-" (e.g., anti-inflammatory, antisocial): Indicates opposition or against the concept

represented by the root.

"Over-" (e.g., overconfident, overestimate): Indicates excess or beyond the normal

limits related to the root.

"Out-" (e.g., outnumber, outperform): Indicates surpassing or exceeding the action of

the root.

Compound suffixes:

"-ish" (e.g., reddish, childish): Indicates resemblance or similarity to the root.

"-able" (e.g., washable, readable): Indicates the ability or capacity of the root.

"-less" (e.g., endless, fearless): Indicates the absence or lack of the quality represented
by the root.

"-ment" (e.g., development, statement): Forms a noun denoting the result or product of
the action represented by the root.

Please note that this is a more extensive list, but it may not include all possible affixes in
the English language.