Lexical Structure and Word Formation

Posted on Sep 21, 2024 in Latin

Lexical Structure

Lexeme

The lexeme (or root) is an indispensable component that contains the basic meaning of a word.

Morphemes

Morphemes (or affixes) can be added to a lexeme to modify its meaning. They can be prefixes (added before the root) or suffixes (added after the root). For example, in the word “fustetes”, “-et” is a diminutive suffix. Grammatical morphemes indicate grammatical categories, such as plural (“fustetes”).

Morphology and Lexicology

Morphology studies grammatical morphemes and verbal and nominal inflection (conjugation).

Lexicology studies the combination of lexemes and morphemes to form new words.

Word Formation

Word formation processes create new words from existing ones. These processes vary depending on the mechanisms involved.

Derivation

Derivation is the process of forming new words by attaching one or more derivational morphemes to a lexeme. Attaching a prefix before the root is called prefixation, while attaching a suffix after the root is called suffixation. Simultaneous attachment of a prefix and a suffix is called parasíntesis.

Suffixation

Suffixation involves attaching one or more suffixes to a word. Characteristics of suffixation include:

  1. Most suffixes are tonic and impose a new stress pattern on the word.
  2. The same word can be formed by two or more suffixations (e.g., “orange”, “orangeade”, “orangery”).
  3. Suffixation can change the part of speech of the derived word (e.g., “belleza”).
  4. Suffixes are placed between the root and the grammatical morpheme (e.g., “wood-en-es”). In some cases, grammatical morphemes can appear between the root and the suffix (e.g., “tentatively”).

Suffixation can be classified into two types based on its effect on the derived word:

  • Lexical suffixation: contributes significantly to the meaning of the derived word and may change its grammatical category (e.g., nominalization, adjectivization, verbalization, adverbialization).
  • Evaluative suffixation: adds a nuance to the meaning of the derived word without changing its grammatical category (e.g., diminutive suffixes).
Lexical Suffixation Examples:
  • Nominalizador: -er (carob), -esa (poor), -tion (expression)
  • Adjectivador: -al (year), -enc (yellow), -ble (food), -rd (close)
  • Verbalitzador: -ejar (mantle), -ificar (sterile), -ejar (often)
  • Adverbialitzador: -ment (cheerful)

From a historical point of view, suffixes can be classified as:

  • Patrimonial suffixes: inherited from Latin or other Romance languages.
  • Cult suffixes: borrowed from other languages, mainly Latin and Greek.

Prefixation

Prefixation involves adding a prefix to a word. Characteristics of prefixation include:

  1. Prefixes do not usually change the stress pattern of the word.
  2. The same word can have more than one prefix.
  3. Prefixes do not change the grammatical category of the word.
  4. Prefixes are placed before the root (e.g., “se misec”).

Prefixes can be classified into two types:

  • Those that express a spatial or temporal relationship (e.g., “in-“, “re-“, “pre-“, “post-“).
  • Those that express negation or opposition (e.g., “un-“, “dis-“, “anti-“).

Cult prefixes are borrowed from other languages, mainly Latin and Greek.