Derivational Affix

Overview

A derivational affix is a type of morpheme that attaches to a base word to form a new word. Unlike inflectional affixes, which modify a word’s grammatical form (like tense or number), derivational affixes typically change the word’s meaning, its part of speech, or both.

Key Concepts

Derivational affixes can be prefixes (added to the beginning) or suffixes (added to the end). They are crucial for expanding vocabulary and creating nuanced meanings.

• Prefixes: Examples include ‘un-‘ in ‘unhappy’ (changing meaning) or ‘re-‘ in ‘rewrite’ (indicating repetition).
• Suffixes: Examples include ‘-ness’ in ‘kindness’ (forming a noun from an adjective) or ‘-able’ in ‘readable’ (forming an adjective).

Deep Dive

The process of adding a derivational affix is called derivation. This process can significantly alter a word’s semantic field or grammatical function. For instance, adding ‘-ify’ to ‘simple’ creates ‘simplify’, changing it from an adjective to a verb.

Consider the word ‘happy’:

• ‘unhappy’ (prefix ‘un-‘ creates an antonym)
• ‘happiness’ (suffix ‘-ness’ creates a noun)

Applications

Derivational affixes are fundamental to word formation in English and many other languages. They allow for concise expression and the creation of specialized terminology in various fields, from science to literature.

Challenges & Misconceptions

A common misconception is that all affixes are the same. However, distinguishing between derivational and inflectional affixes is important for understanding grammar and morphology. Derivational affixes are productive, meaning they can be used to create new words, while inflectional affixes are more limited.

FAQs

What is the difference between a derivational and inflectional affix?

Derivational affixes change a word’s meaning or part of speech, while inflectional affixes change its grammatical form (e.g., tense, number).

Can an affix be both derivational and inflectional?

No, an affix is classified as either derivational or inflectional based on its function.

How many derivational affixes are there?

There are numerous derivational affixes in English, both prefixes and suffixes, and they are highly productive.