LANE 333 MORPHOLOGY 2012 Term 1

Suffixal Homophones
By: Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar
10/5/2011 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar

http://SBANJAR.kau.edu.sa/ http://wwwdrshadiabanjar.blogspot.com
1

H. Suffixal Homophones
Some suffixes, both inflectional and derivational have homophonous forms. I. The inflectional morpheme has two homophones: {-ER n } & {-ER rp} II. The verbal inflectional suffix has two homophones : {-ING nm} & {-ING aj} III. The verbal inflectional has a homophone in the adjectival derivational {-D aj} IV.The adverbial derivational suffix has one homophone: {-Ly aj}.
10/5/2011 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 2

Suffixal Homophones
I. The inflectional morpheme

I. The inflectional morpheme {-ER cp} has two homophones:

1. Derivational morpheme {-ER n }, as in hunter, fisher. It is often called the agent er and conveys the meaning of that which performs the action of the verb stem. It may also attached to nonverbal stems as in: teenager, new Yorker ;conveying the meaning of that which is related to. Both belong to the same morpheme. 2. Derivational morpheme {-ER rp} , which appears at the end of words and conveys the meaning of repetition as in glitter, mutter.
10/5/2011 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 3

Suffixal Homophones
II. The verbal inflectional suffix

The verbal inflectional suffix {-ING vb}

has two homophones : 1. Nominal derivational suffix {-ING nm} as in meetings, weddings. 2. Adjectival morpheme {-ING aj} as in a charming woman.
10/5/2011 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 4

Verbal Inflectional Suffix Tests

There are two tests to distinguish the verbal {-ING vb} from the adjectival {-ING aj}: The verbal {-ING vb} can usually occur after as well as before the noun it modifies as in: I saw a burning house. I saw a house burning. 1. The adjectival {-ING aj} can be preceded by a qualifier (very) or by the comparative or superlative (more and most), while the verbal {-ING vb} cannot. It is a very comforting thought. This is a more exciting movie.

* I saw a rather burning house,

10/5/2011 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 5

Verbal Suffix Tests

2. The adjectival {-ING aj} can occur after the verb seems, but the verbal {-ING vb} cannot. The snake seems interesting. * The snake seems crawling.

10/5/2011

Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar

III. The verbal i*nflectional

The verbal inflectional {-D pp } has a homophone in the adjectival derivational {-D aj } as in: Helen was excited about her new job she was a devoted mother The adjectival {-D aj } can be preceded by a qualifier (very, rather,quite) or (more & most) The test of the verb (seem) is applicable to adjectival {-D aj }, but not to verbal {-D pp} *The very departed guests had forgotten their dog. *The guests seem departed.
10/5/2011 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 7

IV. The adverbial derivational suffix

The adverbial derivational suffix

is added to most adjectives to form adverb of manner as kindly, happily.

has as a homophone the derivational suffix {-LY aj} that is distributed as follows: a. Added to monosyllabic nouns to form adjectives that are inflected with er, -est: love lovely b. It is added to nouns to form adjectives that are not inflected kingly with er, -est: king c. It is added to few adjectives, giving alternate adjectival forms that are also inflected with er, -est : dead deadly d. Added to a short list of time nouns to form adjectives : day daily, month monthly.
10/5/2011 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 8

10/5/2011

Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar