LCRT 5810 FALL 2012

1. Morphology
The study of word construction

2. Getting Started
• With your table mates brainstorm a list of free
morphemes with: three, four and five letters.

3. What is a free morpheme?
• Free morphemes stand alone as words.
• They are derived from Anglo-Saxon roots.
• It can’t be broken into smaller word parts.
• Some examples: help, play, porcupine,
salamander.

4. What is a bound morphemes
• Cannot stand alone as words
• There are five types:
• Prefixes are fixed at the beginning of a word.
• Suffixes are fixed to the end.
• Greek and Latin roots.

5. Activities
• At your table, you will be given directions to
complete an activity together.
• You have ten minutes to work.
• Be prepared to share your work.

6. 1. Defining common affixes
Prefix Definition Suffix Definition
re- Again, back (redo) -ed Past-tense verbs
in-, im- Not (injustice, impossible) -s, -es More than one
un- Not (unfriendly) -ing Verb form/present participle
dis- Not, opposite of (disagree) -ly Characteristic of
en-, Cause to (encode, embrace) -er, -or One who (worker, actor)
em-

7. 2. Brainstorm words with the following
prefixes
Inter- (between) Semi- (half) Sub- (under) Mis- (wrong) De- (not, opposite)
Interact Semiautomatic Subtract Mistake Deactivate
Interview Semicircle Subpar Misfire Deconstruct
Intervention Semiannual Submarine Miscalculate Deface
Interrelate Semicolon Suburb Misuse Demoralize
Interpret Semifinal Subcategory Mishap Deforestation

8. 3. Brainstorm words with the following
suffixes
-ic (having -ive (adj. form of -less (without) -ity (state of) -ful (full of)
characteristics of) noun)
Linguistic Expressive Fearless Infinity Careful
Manic Creative Childless Calamity Joyful
Toxic Imaginative Clueless Insanity Thankful
Artistic Elusive Senseless Depravity Stressful
Idealistic Authoritative Penniless Affinity Helpful

9. 4. Brainstorm words with the following
Latin root words
Fract (break) Ject (throw) Port (carry) Voc (voice) Bene (well, good)
Fracture Eject Transport Vocal Benefactor
Infraction Reject Portal Vocabulary Beneficiary
Fraction Rejection Porter Invocation Benevolent
Diffract Inject Airport Advocate Benefit
Fractionally Injection Deport Vocalize Beneficial

10. 5. Brainstorm words with the following
Greek roots
Mech (machine) Therm (heat) Scope (see) Para (beside) Graph (write,
record)
Mechanic Thermal Microscope Parallel Autograph
Mechanism Thermometer Telescope Paralegal Mimeograph
Mechanically Thermodynamic Periscope Paraprofessional Bibliography
Mechanized Hypothermia Microscopic Parasite Pictograph
Biomechanics Endothermic Kaleidoscope Parachute Telegraph

11. 6. Assimilation/Dissimilation
In- Im- -al -ar
Inept Impossible Use im- when: Paternal Cellular
Indescribable Immortal In front of b, m, or p Conventional Particular
Insecure Imbalanced Skeptical
Inoperable Artificial
Infallible General
Use –ar when:
Root word ends in
/l/ sound (cell,
particle)

12. Epenthesis
• The process of inserting a sound to create an
acceptable sequence.
• One example is a and an.
• A is for words that begin with a consonant and
an is in front of words that begin with a vowel
to break up two vowels.

13. Metathesis
• Reversing a sound in a word to avoid an
unacceptable combination.
• English does not use metathesis between
morphemes.
• Sometimes young children will reverse
sounds, based on their development level.

14. Discussion
• How would you use this information when
teaching native English speakers?
• How might this change with English language
learners?

15. Exit Slip
• Please complete
• Thank you!!