Word formation: affixation

Affixes

An affix is a bound morpheme that attaches to a root or stem to form a new word, or a variant form of the same word. In English we primarily see 2 types.  Prefixes precede the root or stem, e.g., re-cover, while suffixes follow, e.g., hope-ful.  A third type of affix known as a circumfix occurs in the two words en-ligh-en and em-bold-en,  where the prefix en/m– and the suffix –en/m are attached simultaneously to the root.

There are those who claim that infixation is also used as an emphasis marker in colloquial English.  This occurs when an expletive is inserted into the internal structure of a word, e.g., un-fricking-believable.

Derivational affixes derive new words by altering the definitional meaning or the grammatical category of a word, whereas inflectional affixes show grammatical relationships between words or grammatical contrast.  In English, both prefixes and suffixes can be derivational, but only suffixes can be inflectional.

Prefixes
Prefixes are abundant in English.  Some are more commonly used (productive) than others.  As mentioned above, prefixes are only used to derive new meaning or part of speech.  Below is a list of those that are more common.

Table 1 Commonly used prefixes in EnglishCLICK PHOTO FOR LARGE VIEW

Suffixes

Suffixes can either be derivational or inflectional.  Below is a list of common derivational suffixes.

Table 2 Commonly used derivational suffixes in EnglishCLICK PHOTO FOR LARGE VIEW

In English there are 8 inflectional suffixes.  As you will see, these are limited to showing some type of grammatical function.

Table 3 Inflectional suffixes in EnglishCLICK PHOTO FOR LARGE VIEW

You may have noticed that -er appears as both a derivational and inflectional morpheme.  Although they share phonological form, they are two separate morphemes, having 2 separate functions and must not be confused.  -er attached to a verb causes the derivation: verb  noun, e.g., write  writer.  -er attached to an adjective shows inflection, i.e., the comparative form of an adjective: nice  nicer.   This is also true for –ing and –en.   A verb + -ing can derive a noun or inflect a verb for past or present progressive.

(1)
set + ing = noun 
The setting of the sun was covered by clouds.
set + ing + progressive verb 
I was setting the table when the phone rang.

verb + -en = past participle (freeze + en)

The low temperatures had frozen all the crops.
noun + -en = verb (light + en)
Mary decided to lighten her hair.