What are the different types of affixes used in word formation?

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What are the different types of affixes used in word formation?

In word formation, affixes are used to modify or add meaning to a base word. There are several types of affixes that can be used in word formation, including prefixes, suffixes, infixes, circumfixes, and interfixes.

1. Prefixes: These are affixes that are added to the beginning of a base word to change its meaning or create a new word. For example, the prefix "un-" can be added to the word "happy" to form the word "unhappy," which means not happy.

2. Suffixes: These are affixes that are added to the end of a base word to modify its meaning or create a new word. For instance, the suffix "-er" can be added to the word "teach" to form the word "teacher," which refers to a person who teaches.

3. Infixes: Unlike prefixes and suffixes, infixes are inserted within a base word to create a new word or change its meaning. Infixes are less common in English but are more prevalent in other languages. An example of an infix is the word "fan-freaking-tastic," where the infix "-freaking-" is inserted within the base word "fantastic" for emphasis.

4. Circumfixes: These are affixes that consist of both a prefix and a suffix attached to a base word simultaneously. They can be found in some languages, but they are not commonly used in English. An example of a circumfix is the German word "gelesen," where the prefix "ge-" and the suffix "-en" are added to the base word "lesen" (to read) to form the past participle "read."

5. Interfixes: These are affixes that are inserted between two morphemes within a compound word to create a new word or modify its meaning. Interfixes are also less common in English but can be found in some instances. For example, in the word "blackbird," the interfix "-k-" is inserted between the two morphemes "black" and "bird" to form a compound word referring to a specific type of bird.

Overall, these different types of affixes play a crucial role in word formation by adding prefixes, suffixes, infixes, circumfixes, or interfixes to base words, thereby creating new words or modifying the meaning of existing ones.