Morphology and Word Formation

From the study guide

Course Outline

  1. Basic Meaningful Units
  2. Distributional Units and Repeated Discourse
  3. Lexemes and Grammatical Morphemes
  4. Roots, Bases, Radicals, and Affixes
  5. Allomorphy and Morphological Homonymy
  6. Derivation and Composition

1. Basic Meaningful Units

Key Concepts & Definitions

  • Moneme: Martinet - The minimal unit that has a meaningful function.
  • Syntagm: Martinet - A combination of two or more monemes whose mutual relations are especially close.

Essential Points

📌 For Martinet, synthèmes are units resulting from derivation or composition and are distinct from monemes and syntagms.

  • André Martinet, founder of the functionalist school of syntax, distinguishes the moneme and the syntagm as two meaningful units and argues that the word is not a formalizable notion.

  • In Martinet’s analysis, hier contains one moneme, aim/able contains two monemes, and en voiture is a syntagm.

Memory Hook

A moneme is minimal; a syntagm combines monemes.

2. Distributional Units and Repeated Discourse

Key Concepts & Definitions

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Practice quiz preview

1. In Martinet’s terminology, what is a moneme?

2. In an analysis using Martinet’s categories, a phrase consists of two monemes whose mutual relations are especially close. Which unit does the phrase exemplify?

3. A form can be spoken by itself, but each of its meaningful parts cannot be spoken alone as an independent meaningful form. How would Bloomfield classify the whole form?

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Flashcard preview

What is a moneme according to Martinet?

The minimal unit with a meaningful function.

What is a syntagm according to Martinet?

A combination of at least two monemes with especially close mutual relations.

How does Bloomfield define a word?

A form utterable alone but not divisible into meaningful elements each utterable alone.

How does Bloomfield distinguish morphemes, syntagms, and words by form?

Morphemes are minimal forms, syntagms are free non-minimal forms, and words are free minimal forms.

What defines Coseriu’s repeated discourse?

Traditional fixed expressions whose elements cannot be replaced or recombined by current language rules.

How does Coseriu classify repeated discourse expressions?

By whether they can be substituted for phrases, syntagms, or words.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Morphology and Word Formation study guide cover?

It covers the core concepts of Morphology and Word Formation, organized by topic with the key definitions, explanations and takeaways, so it's easier to learn and remember.

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How many questions are in the Morphology and Word Formation quiz?

The practice quiz has 16 multiple-choice questions, each with an explanation. Use it to check what you know and find your gaps.

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There are 48 flashcards on Morphology and Word Formation, with a question on the front and the answer on the back. Try to recall each answer before you flip, and let spaced repetition bring back the ones you miss.

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