Word Formation Questions Medium
Affixation is a process of word formation in which affixes, which are bound morphemes, are added to a base or root word to create a new word with a different meaning or grammatical function. Affixes can be either prefixes, which are added to the beginning of a word, or suffixes, which are added to the end of a word.
When affixation occurs, the base word remains intact, while the affixes modify its meaning or grammatical category. For example, in the word "unhappiness," the prefix "un-" is added to the base word "happy," changing its meaning to "not happy." Similarly, in the word "teacher," the suffix "-er" is added to the base word "teach," changing its grammatical function from a verb to a noun.
Affixation can also involve multiple affixes being added to a base word. For instance, in the word "unhappily," both the prefix "un-" and the suffix "-ly" are added to the base word "happy," resulting in a new word that means "not happy" and also functions as an adverb.
The process of affixation is productive in English, meaning that new words can be formed by adding affixes to existing words. This allows for the creation of a wide range of words with different meanings and functions. However, it is important to note that not all combinations of base words and affixes are possible or acceptable in English, as there are certain rules and constraints that govern word formation.