Overview
Infixation is a morphological process where an infix is inserted into the middle of a root or stem. This is distinct from prefixation (adding to the beginning) and suffixation (adding to the end).
Key Concepts
The core idea is the insertion of a meaningful unit (the infix) into an existing word structure. This often serves grammatical or semantic functions.
Deep Dive
While rare in English, infixation is more prominent in other languages. For instance, in Tagalog, the infix -um- is inserted to form verbs.
Example:
Root: sulat (write)
Infixation: s + um + ulat = sumulat (to write)
Applications
In languages where it occurs, infixation can indicate tense, aspect, mood, or plurality. It’s a key feature for understanding word formation in diverse linguistic systems.
Challenges & Misconceptions
A common misconception is confusing infixation with simple compounding or the insertion of free morphemes. True infixation involves bound morphemes altering the base word.
FAQs
- What is an infix? An infix is a morpheme inserted within another morpheme.
- Is infixation common in English? No, it is very rare in English.
- Where is infixation found? It’s found in languages like Tagalog, West African languages, and some Native American languages.