Definition of Morpheme, Allomorph, Root, and Base
A. morpheme
The smallest
meaningful unit in a language. A morpheme cannot be divided without altering or
destroying its meaning. For example, the English word kind is a
morpheme. If the d is removed, it changes to kin, which has a
different meaning. Some words consist of one morpheme, e.g. kind, others
of more than one. For example, the English word unkindness consists of
three morphemes: the STEM1 kind, the negative prefix un-, and the
noun-forming suffix -ness. Morphemes can have grammatical functions. For
example, in English the –s in she talks is a grammatical
morpheme which shows that the verb is the third-person singular
present-tense form.
meaningful unit in a language. A morpheme cannot be divided without altering or
destroying its meaning. For example, the English word kind is a
morpheme. If the d is removed, it changes to kin, which has a
different meaning. Some words consist of one morpheme, e.g. kind, others
of more than one. For example, the English word unkindness consists of
three morphemes: the STEM1 kind, the negative prefix un-, and the
noun-forming suffix -ness. Morphemes can have grammatical functions. For
example, in English the –s in she talks is a grammatical
morpheme which shows that the verb is the third-person singular
present-tense form.
B. allomorph
any of the different
forms of a MORPHEME. For example, in English the plural morpheme is often shown
in writing by adding -s to the end of a word, e.g. cat /kæt/ –
cats /kæts/. Sometimes this plural morpheme is pronounced /z/, e.g. dog /díg/ –
dogs /dígz/, and sometimes it is pronounced /Iz/, e.g. class /klæs/
– classes /`klæsız/. /s/, /z/, and /Iz/ all have the same grammatical
function in these examples, they all show plural; they are all allomorphs of
the plural morpheme.
forms of a MORPHEME. For example, in English the plural morpheme is often shown
in writing by adding -s to the end of a word, e.g. cat /kæt/ –
cats /kæts/. Sometimes this plural morpheme is pronounced /z/, e.g. dog /díg/ –
dogs /dígz/, and sometimes it is pronounced /Iz/, e.g. class /klæs/
– classes /`klæsız/. /s/, /z/, and /Iz/ all have the same grammatical
function in these examples, they all show plural; they are all allomorphs of
the plural morpheme.
C. root
also base form
a MORPHEME which is the basic part of a word
and which may, in many languages, occur on its own (e.g. English: man, hold,
cold, rhythm). Roots may be joined to other roots (e.g. English: house _
hold → household) and/or take AFFIXes (e.g.
manly, coldness) or COMBINING FORMs (e.g. biorhythm).
and which may, in many languages, occur on its own (e.g. English: man, hold,
cold, rhythm). Roots may be joined to other roots (e.g. English: house _
hold → household) and/or take AFFIXes (e.g.
manly, coldness) or COMBINING FORMs (e.g. biorhythm).
D. base form
another term for ROOT OR STEM1.
For
example, the English word helpful has the base form help.
example, the English word helpful has the base form help.
E. stem1
also base form
that part of a word
to which an inflectional AFFIX is or can be added. For example, in English the
inflectional affix -s can be added to the stem work to form the plural works
in the works of Shakespeare. The stem of a word may be:
to which an inflectional AFFIX is or can be added. For example, in English the
inflectional affix -s can be added to the stem work to form the plural works
in the works of Shakespeare. The stem of a word may be:
a. a
simple stem consisting of only one morpheme (ROOT), e.g. work
simple stem consisting of only one morpheme (ROOT), e.g. work
b. a root plus a derivational
affix, e.g. work _ -er _ worker
affix, e.g. work _ -er _ worker
c. two or more roots, e.g. work _ shop
_ workshop.
_ workshop.
Thus we can have work _ -s _ works,
(work _ -er) _ workers, or
(work _ -er) _ workers, or
(work
_
shop) _ -s _ workshops.
_
shop) _ -s _ workshops.
F. Stem versus roots
STEM and ROOT are used to refer to the
‘base’ of a word. The part to which affixes attach. The distinction between
them is based on the distinction between inflectional and derivational.
‘base’ of a word. The part to which affixes attach. The distinction between
them is based on the distinction between inflectional and derivational.
Consider a
word like ‘kickers’, it contains two
suffixes, one derivational (-er), the
other inflectional (-s). strip both
affixes off and you are left with kick,
which we call a ROOT. Add back on the derivational suffix –er and you get kicker,
we call the STEM.
More
generally, a root is any single morpheme which is not an affix. Normally, you
can find a root by removing all the affixes (both derivational and
inflectional) from a word. The stem of a word, on other hand, is found by
removing all the inflectional affixes, but leaving any derivational affixes in
place.
generally, a root is any single morpheme which is not an affix. Normally, you
can find a root by removing all the affixes (both derivational and
inflectional) from a word. The stem of a word, on other hand, is found by
removing all the inflectional affixes, but leaving any derivational affixes in
place.
A
root is always a single morpheme. A stem on the other hand, may consists of
more than one morpheme. Many stems, like cat
consists of only a single root. The stem and the root are identical.
root is always a single morpheme. A stem on the other hand, may consists of
more than one morpheme. Many stems, like cat
consists of only a single root. The stem and the root are identical.
other
stems consists of two or more roots, as in view-point.
Neither view nor point is an affix and both are single morphemes. So they are
both considered to be roots.
stems consists of two or more roots, as in view-point.
Neither view nor point is an affix and both are single morphemes. So they are
both considered to be roots.
a
stem containing more than one root is called a COMPOUND STEM or simply a
COMPOUND; the process of forming such stems is called COMPOUNDING.
stem containing more than one root is called a COMPOUND STEM or simply a
COMPOUND; the process of forming such stems is called COMPOUNDING.
Compounding may, in some cases, involve
derivational affixes too, as in rabble-rouser-r;
this stem consists of two roots plus a derivational suffix.
derivational affixes too, as in rabble-rouser-r;
this stem consists of two roots plus a derivational suffix.
and
stem may contain more than one derivational affix, as in interlinearizer (a type of computer program that is used by
linguists for inserting interlinear word-by-word or morpheme-by-morpheme
glosses in a text)
stem may contain more than one derivational affix, as in interlinearizer (a type of computer program that is used by
linguists for inserting interlinear word-by-word or morpheme-by-morpheme
glosses in a text)
thus,
a stem consist of one or more roots, plus zero or more derivational affixes. A
root, in contrast, is always a single morpheme.
a stem consist of one or more roots, plus zero or more derivational affixes. A
root, in contrast, is always a single morpheme.
All stems serve as the base to which
inflectional affixes attach. So, for example, all the nouns mentioned above
have plural forms.
inflectional affixes attach. So, for example, all the nouns mentioned above
have plural forms.
a. cat-s
b. kicker-s
c. viewpoint-s
d. rabble-rouser-s
e. interlinearizer-s
virtually
all roots are also stems and the simplest stems (those consisting of only one
morpheme) are also roots.
all roots are also stems and the simplest stems (those consisting of only one
morpheme) are also roots.
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