Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Thanks and Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Tasks
- Introductory unit
- 1 Language standards and rules
- 2 Varieties of English
- 3 Types of grammar
- 4 Language systems and syllabuses
- 5 Forms and functions
- 6 An introduction to phonology
- 7 The consonants
- 8 The vowels
- 9 Rhythm and connected speech
- 10 Sentence stress and intonation
- 11 Word formation, spelling and word stress
- 12 Lexical meaning
- 13 Word classes and phrases
- 14 Sentence structure: the simple sentence
- 15 Sentence structure: the complex sentence
- 16 Negatives and questions
- 17 The verb phrase
- 18 Time and tense
- 19 Aspect: progressive
- 20 Aspect: perfect
- 21 Modality
- 22 Futurity
- 23 Hypothetical meaning and conditionals
- 24 The noun phrase
- 25 Determiners
- 26 Adjectives and adverbs
- 27 Prepositions and phrasal verbs
- 28 Cohesion
- 29 Texts
- 30 Conversation
- Key and commentaries
- Introductory unit
- 1 Language standards and rules
- 2 Varieties of English
- 3 Types of grammar
- 4 Language systems and syllabuses
- 5 Forms and functions
- 6 An introduction to phonology
- 7 The consonants
- 8 The vowels
- 9 Rhythm and connected speech
- 10 Sentence stress and intonation
- 11 Word formation, spelling and word stress
- 12 Lexical meaning
- 13 Word classes and phrases
- 14 Sentence structure: the simple sentence
- 15 Sentence structure: the complex sentence
- 16 Negatives and questions
- 17 The verb phrase
- 18 Time and tense
- 19 Aspect: progressive
- 20 Aspect: perfect
- 21 Modality
- 22 Futurity
- 23 Hypothetical meaning and conditionals
- 24 The noun phrase
- 25 Determiners
- 26 Adjectives and adverbs
- 27 Prepositions and phrasal verbs
- 28 Cohesion
- 29 Texts
- 30 Conversation
- References
- Index
11 - Word formation, spelling and word stress
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 February 2023
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Thanks and Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Tasks
- Introductory unit
- 1 Language standards and rules
- 2 Varieties of English
- 3 Types of grammar
- 4 Language systems and syllabuses
- 5 Forms and functions
- 6 An introduction to phonology
- 7 The consonants
- 8 The vowels
- 9 Rhythm and connected speech
- 10 Sentence stress and intonation
- 11 Word formation, spelling and word stress
- 12 Lexical meaning
- 13 Word classes and phrases
- 14 Sentence structure: the simple sentence
- 15 Sentence structure: the complex sentence
- 16 Negatives and questions
- 17 The verb phrase
- 18 Time and tense
- 19 Aspect: progressive
- 20 Aspect: perfect
- 21 Modality
- 22 Futurity
- 23 Hypothetical meaning and conditionals
- 24 The noun phrase
- 25 Determiners
- 26 Adjectives and adverbs
- 27 Prepositions and phrasal verbs
- 28 Cohesion
- 29 Texts
- 30 Conversation
- Key and commentaries
- Introductory unit
- 1 Language standards and rules
- 2 Varieties of English
- 3 Types of grammar
- 4 Language systems and syllabuses
- 5 Forms and functions
- 6 An introduction to phonology
- 7 The consonants
- 8 The vowels
- 9 Rhythm and connected speech
- 10 Sentence stress and intonation
- 11 Word formation, spelling and word stress
- 12 Lexical meaning
- 13 Word classes and phrases
- 14 Sentence structure: the simple sentence
- 15 Sentence structure: the complex sentence
- 16 Negatives and questions
- 17 The verb phrase
- 18 Time and tense
- 19 Aspect: progressive
- 20 Aspect: perfect
- 21 Modality
- 22 Futurity
- 23 Hypothetical meaning and conditionals
- 24 The noun phrase
- 25 Determiners
- 26 Adjectives and adverbs
- 27 Prepositions and phrasal verbs
- 28 Cohesion
- 29 Texts
- 30 Conversation
- References
- Index
Summary
Introduction
This unit introduces the area of vocabulary, or lexis, in English. The two terms ‘vocabulary’ and ‘lexis’ are frequently used interchangeably and that convention is followed here. In this unit we look at the form of words. In the next unit we look at how words relate to other words in terms of their meaning.
Tasks
1 Morphology
‘This branch of linguistics investigates word structure and word formation. Every word consists of one or more morphemes – the smallest grammatical units carrying meaning’ (Johnson and Johnson 1998).
So, the word formation consists of two morphemes: form- and -ation. Formation consists of a stem to which a suffix (-ation) had been attached. (Notice here that, as is often the case, the stem can stand on its own – form – whereas the suffix -ation, like most affixes, cannot.)
How many morphemes can you count in this sign?
2 Word formation
There are a number of common ways of constructing words. For example:
• affixation: that is, through the use of affixes (prefixes and suffixes), for example learner (learn + -er), remake (re + make);
• compounding: by combining two or more existing words, for example screenplay, sunscreen, sunbathe;
• conversion: by converting words from one part of speech to another, for example to screen (from a screen), makeup (from to make up);
• blending: by merging two existing words or parts of words: blog (from web log), prequel (from pre- + sequel);
• by some form of shortening: this may entail abbreviating (e.g. CD for compact disc), or clipping, e.g. sitcom (from situation comedy), app (from application). Or it may entail using acronyms – initial letters that are pronounced as if they were a word – as, for example, in SATs (standard assessment tests).
a Do these same word-formation processes operate in another language you know?
b In this extract, can you identify which of the above principles of word formation is exemplified in each of the underlined words?
Now that video editing has descended from its ivory tower and become an everyday cheap and easy-to-master activity, more and more people are shooting video on their phones. These multi-functional miracles have replaced the expensive and clunky camcorders of yesteryear and are capable of capturing high-definition video.
Many smartphones now feature dual microphones for cancelling background noise and echo and can produce surprisingly crisp sound.
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- Information
- About LanguageTasks for Teachers of English, pp. 70 - 76Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2017