ENGLISH AFFIXATION AND ITS IMPLICATION IN TEACHING VOCABULARY

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES POST GRADUATE DEPARTMENT ENGLISH AFFIXATION AND ITS IMPLICATION IN TEACHING VOCABULARY SEMANTICS ( Final Assignment ) Student Nguyễn Thị Thanh Group K18C Supervisor Dr Hà Cẩm Tâm HÀ NỘI –2010 Table of contents Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Development 2 1 Affixation definitions 2 2 A classification of English affixation 2 2 1 Suffixes 2 2 2 Prefixes Chapter 3 Implications fo.

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES POST- GRADUATE DEPARTMENT ENGLISH AFFIXATION AND ITS IMPLICATION IN TEACHING VOCABULARY SEMANTICS ( Final Assignment ) Student: Nguyễn Thị Thanh Group: K18C Supervisor: Dr Hà Cẩm Tâm HÀ NỘI –2010 Table of contents Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Development 2.1 Affixation definitions 2.2 A classification of English affixation 2.2.1 Suffixes 2.2.2 Prefixes Chapter 3: Implications for teaching and learning vocabulary Chapter 4: Conclusion Chapter 5: References CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Rationale As English becomes the world dominant language in every aspect of social life and Vietnam is certainly not an exception However, the problems raised by the complexity and diversity of the language vocabulary have driven all learners confused and discouraged Semantics researcher have carried out uncountable number of studies on this matter and obtained considerable results which are proved to be useful and practical for the learning and teaching process On the other hand, mastering the English vocabulary is not merely remembering the word usage and meaning but also involves controlling its affixation which creates new vocabulary The solution to this will therefore benefit language learning and teaching in many fields Aims of the study In the first place, the study mainly focuses on the definition and classification of the English affixation according to Ingo Plag (2002) This is followed by some further implications for teaching and learning English as a foreign language Methods of the study The study is conducted based mainly on the collection and selection of academic research and literature in the same topic Some reliable websites on the Internet have been great helpful Furthermore, information from the Semantics MA course also contributes to this study Design of the study There are main chapters in the research Chapter reveals the reason leading to the study, chapter develops definition and classification of the English affixation according to Ingo Plag (2002), chapter shows some implications for teaching and learning language Chapter summarizes what has been covered in the study and the last chapter provides the sources of information used CHAPTER 2: DEVELOPMENT 2.1 Affixation definition According to Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (second edition), affix is a letter or group of letters which are added to the beginning or end of a word to make a new word Therefore, “un” and “dis” can be categorized as affixation Moreover, Matthews (1991) also cited that affixation is the morphological process whereby an affix is attached to a root or stem However, Ingo Plag (2002) defined affix as a bound morpheme that attaches to the base He also pointed out that the problem of what is supposed to be the free and bound morpheme and when something is treated as the root or the morpheme In such cases, he concluded, only a careful analysis of its linguistic properties can reveal whether the element in question is really the same in both cases 2.2 A classification of English affixation It is obvious to admit that there are enormous ways of classifying affixation That can be divided into derivational, like –ness and pre, or inflectional, like plural –s and past tense – ed However, for fear of complicated classification confusing low level learners, that way of classification will not be discussed here This study deals with the view of Ingo Plag because of its simplicity and authenticity, which would be regarded as learner-centered teaching methodology In his book “Word formation in English”, Ingo Plag divided affixation into three sub-groups: suffixes, prefixes, and infixes However, this study only focus on the first two categories due to their domination and popularity in teaching and learning the English language 2.2.1 Suffixes 2.2.1.1 Nominal suffixes Nominal suffixes are often employed to derive abstract nouns from verbs, adjectives and nouns Such abstract nouns can denote actions, results of actions, or other related concepts , but also properties, qualities and so on Another large group of nominal suffixes derives person nouns of various sorts Very often these meaning are extended to other The following table is a short summary of nominal suffixes Number Nominal suffixes Meaning Example - age Activity, or its result, nouns Coverage denoting a collective entity or Leakage quantity, location Acreage Voltage Orphanage - al Form abstract nouns denoting Arrival an action or the result of an Recital action -ance (-ence, Action nouns -ancy, - ency Renewal Absorbance Furtherance Expectance Dependence Dependency - ant Nouns referring to person or Applicant to substances biological, involved chemical physical process in Defendant or Attractant Dispersant Suppressant - cy / - ce States, properties, qualities or Convergence facts or can refer to an office Emergence or institution Adequacy Intimacy - dom “the state of presidency being Apedom something”, refer to collective Slumdom entities, domains, realms or Clerkdom territories Boredom Freedom Studentdom Kingdom Cameldom Maoridom - ee Nouns denoting sentient Employee entities that are involved in an Pickpocketee event as non – volitional Biographee participant Amputee Standee Rehabilitee - eer “person who deals in, is Auctioneer concerned with or has to Budgeter with something” Cameleer Mountaineer Pamphleteer -er/ or Volitional participants in an Blender event, instrument nouns, Mixer place, origin or residence Diner Lounger Winner Londoner New Yorker Conductor 10 - (e)ry Locations which stand in Bakery some kind of connection to Pottery what is denoted by the base Fishery Cannery Cakery 11 - ess Nouns refer exclusively to Princess female human or animals Lionees Hostess Actress Stewardess 12 - ful waitress Partitive nouns from nominal Bootful base words that can construed as containers be Handful Cupful Stickful Tumblerful basketful 13 - hood Concepts, collectivity Adulthood Childhood Farmerhood Neighborhood Companionhood 14 - an/ -ian/ - ean Nouns denoting persons and Technician places Electrician Musician Bostonian Lancastrian Mongolian Utopian 15 - ing Processes Begging Running Building Sleeping 16 - ion Events or results of processes, Colonization are found primarily scientific discourse in Collocation Starvation Identification Classification 17 - ism Sedimentation Forming abstract nouns from Blondism other nouns and adjectives, Parkinsonism denoting concept state, Conservatism condition, attitude, system of Revisionism belief or theory Marxism 18 - ist Person, attitudes, belief and Ballonist theory Careerist Fantasist Minimalist 19 - ity Changing the stress pattern of Curiosity the base Productivity Readability Responsibility Solidity 20 - ment Action nouns denoting Assessment processes or results from Endorsement Involvement Treatment Improvement 21 - ness Can be attached to practically Thingness any adjectives Happiness Over – top – ness 22 - ship State, condition, base words Friendship are mostly person nouns Apprenticeship Statesmanship Post mastership Censorship 2.2.1.2 Verbal suffixes There are four suffixes which derive verbs from other categories: -ate, - en, - ify, ize Verbal suffixes - ate Meaning Example Represent a rather large Fluorinate heterogeneous There is group Methanate a class of Regulate derivatives with chemical Dissonate substances as which exhibit - en bases, Fidate systematically Mercurate ornative and resultative meanings Causative “make more of Blacken something” Broaden Quicken Strengthen Lengthen - ify Shows the same range of Humidity related meanings Solidity Nazify Purify - ize Locative, causative, ornative, Computerize resultative, Randomize inchoative, performative, Cannibalize similative Emphasize Feminize 2.2.1.3 Adjectival suffixes The Adjectival suffixes can be subdivided into two major groups A large proportion of derived adjectives are relational adjectives, whose role is simply to relate to nouns the adjective qualifies to the base words The other group that expresses more specific concepts is called qualitative adjectives Number Adjectival suffixes -able Meaning Example “capable of being Xed” and Perishable “liable or disposed to X” Fashionable Reasonable Knowledgeable Allocable - al Attaches to almost Latin Accidental bases Colonial Cultural Federal Modal Institutional - ary Again a relational adjective – Complementary forming suffix Documentary Fragmentary Evolutionary Legendary Precautionary - ed “having X, being provided Broad- minded with X” Pig – headed Wooded Empty – headed Short – legged Kind – hearted - esque Convey the notion of “ in the Picturesque manner or style of X” Chaplinesque Heingwayesque Kafkaesque - ful “having X, being Beautiful characterized by X” Purposeful Tactful Resentful Forgetful - ic/ ical Attaches to foreign bases Economic Magic Historic Historical electrical electric - ing Positions and state Changing Boring Running Waiting Raining - ish Somewhat X, vaguely X, of Clearish the character of X, like X ot Freeish pejorative meaning Soonish Childish Selfish 10 - ive Forms adjectives mostly Connective from Latin verbs and bound Instinctive root Massive Active Receptive Passive Offensive 11 - less As antonymic to –ful, means Expressionless “without X” Hopeless Careless Thankless Speechless 12 - ly In the manner of X, like an X Womanly or temporal concepts Manly Daily Monthly Fatherly 13 - ous Derives adjectives from Curious nouns and bound root, the Erroneous vast majority being of Latin Dangerous origin Ambiguous Continuous 2.2.1.4 Adverbial suffixes Adverbial suffixes - ly Meaning Example The presence of this exclusively Shortly de- adjectival suffix is for the Hardly most part syntactically triggered Dryly and obligatory, therefore it can Darkly be considered inflectional Carelessly Happily - wise In the manner of X, like X, Food- wise indicates arrangement movements, Like – wise Cross – wise Status-wise 2.2.2 Prefixes The prefixes of English can be classified semantically into the following groups ACTION PART MEANING EXAMPLE PART MEANING EXAMPLE cede/ceed (go) proceed rupt (break) erupt cred (believe) credit scrib/scrip (write) describe graph (write) autograph sect (cut) bisect ject (throw) eject ven (come) intervene mit/miss (send) emit ver (turn) divert mute (change) commute viv (live) survive port (carry) deport LOCATION PART MEANING EXAMPLE cir (around) circulate ex (out) exit in (in) include re (back) return sub (under) subway tele (far) telephone trans (across) transatlantic UNIVERSE PART MEANING EXAMPLE geo (earth) geology terr (earth) territory hydr (water) hydroplane aqua (water) aquatic astr (star) astronaut pyr (fire) pyrotechnics PART MEANING EXAMPLE corp (body) corporation card (heart) cardiology derm (skin) dermatologist man (hand) manual dent (teeth) dentist ped/pod (feet) pedestrian cap (head) captain BODY HUMAN STATES PART MEANING EXAMPLE PART MEANING EXAMPLE am (love) amiable (feeling) sympathy phil (love) Philadelphia mania (crazy) maniac bene (good) benefit (fear) claustrophobia eu (good) euphemism psycho (mind) psychology mal (bad) malcontent bio (life) biology dys (bad) dysfunction mor (death) mortal path phobia PEOPLE PART MEANING EXAMPLE pater (father) patriarch mater (mother) maternity frater (brother) fraternal domin (master) domination jud (judge) judgment anthro (people) anthropology demo (people) democracy SENSES PART MEANING EXAMPLE spec (see) spectator vis/vid (see) visit/ video scope (see) telescope phon (hear) telephone aud (hear) audience dic (say) dictate loc/loq (speak) eloquent CHAPTER 3: IMPLICATIONS FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING VOCABULARY In the author’s point of view, the implications of English affixation can be applied in every aspect of teaching and learning the language However, due to the highly – recommended practicability and usefulness of this issue, it is suggested that implications for teaching and learning vocabulary would be of greater necessity than reading, speaking, listening and writing skills That is the reason why this study will mainly focus on teaching and learning vocabulary Further study about English affixation in teaching other skills can be conducted in the future Controlling the vocabulary will be much efficient if teacher pay attention to equip learners with at least some basic concepts about affixation The table of suffixes and prefixes were designed in a learner friendly way, so that not only teachers but also students will find it easy to follow and understand Once given the basic knowledge about common suffixes and prefixes, there can be no considerable difficulty for learners to remember the meaning of long and complex words Examples of some techniques to teach student about English affixation will be discussed in the following analysis 3.1 Using pictures and maps SPECTATOR (spec = see) CAPTAIN (cap = head) DENTIST TELEPHONE (dent = tooth) (tele = far; phone = speak) 3.2 Using games Game 1: Guessing word meaning through multiple choice question What is the meaning of dermatologist A a scientist deals with biology B a doctor who specializes in the treatment of diseases of the skin C a theory of dental D none of the above The correct answer is B, student will be able to answer this question if they have already known that derma = related to skin and ist = person doing the action Which word can complete the following sentence? The … told every sailors what to in the terrible storm A Dentist B Pedestrian C Captain D Dermatologist If learners know that - dent = tooth - ped = foot - cap = head, leading - derm = skin there will be no difficult for them to choose the right answer C in this question Game 2: Find out the correct affixation Teacher may create matching, filling the blank or correcting the wrong affixation in this kind of game • Matching the suitable affixation Prefixes Roots Suffixes In Dispens O Dis Tain Able Cap Advantage Able Fore See ous • Filling the blank ….ctator :see …sit/ ….eo : see ….scope: far tele….: speak …ience: hear ….tate: write e….uent: speak • Correcting the wrong affixation Electricist (electrician) scienter (scientist) independition (independence) collocatance (collocation) These are just a few techniques that can be of great help in teaching the language vocabulary Student will find out that remembering the meaning of affixation can help them a lot in mastering a considerable number of new concepts CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION English affixation is one of the most fascinating but confusing part of English Whenever the students of English are aware of this matter they will not regard it as difficulty they have to face with That is also the reason why I am so concerned about English affixation and its usefulness On the other hand, I believe that further implications of teaching and learning English affixation can be later studied in the field of teaching reading, listening, speaking and writing skills That may be the interest for future research and studies In conclusion, although I have tried to cover every aspect of English affixation, there are still limits and drawback in my study Thus, all comments and feedbacks about my study will be highly appreciated CHAPTER 5: REFERENCES Ingo Plag, 2002, Word – formation in English, Cambridge University Press Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, second edition Adams, Valerie 2001, Complex Words in English, Harlow: Longman Bauer, Laurie 1998b, “When is a sequence of two nouns and is it productive?”, Linguistics 36: 403 -422 Booji, Geert E 1977, Dutch Morphology: A Study of Word Formation in Generative Grammar, Lisse: de Ridder  ... CHAPTER 3: IMPLICATIONS FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING VOCABULARY In the author’s point of view, the implications of English affixation can be applied in every aspect of teaching and learning the language... about English affixation and its usefulness On the other hand, I believe that further implications of teaching and learning English affixation can be later studied in the field of teaching reading,... useful and practical for the learning and teaching process On the other hand, mastering the English vocabulary is not merely remembering the word usage and meaning but also involves controlling its