Morphology and Syntax: Morpheme, Root, and Productivity in Affix

 Morphology is a discussion about the structure of word. Syntax is a discussion about the linguistics unit which are bigger than words, which are; phrases, clauses, and sentences. Why morphology and syntax are connected each other? Because in grammar, a popular term or discussion of linguistic, morphology and syntax become important in that area.

Morpheme is element of word. Word is an utterance which is consist at least of one root and one root plus another element. There are two types of morphemes;

• Free morpheme

Free morpheme is a morpheme that which can stand alone as a word without another morpheme. For example; cat, house, cook, teach, imagine, and so on...

• Bound morpheme

Bound morpheme is a morpheme which cannot stand alone as a word. Bound morpheme doesn't have any independent meaning, and it needs the help of a free morpheme to form a new word. The '-s' in cats is a bound morpheme, and it doesn't have any meaning without the free morpheme. Usually in the form of an affix.

Next is about affix. It is a set of letters generally added to the beginning or end of word to modify its meaning. There are 4 types of affixes; prefix, suffix, infix, and circumfix.

• Prefix, an affix that attached at the beginning of word. For example: word connect becomes disconnect by attaching prefix 'dis-'
• Suffix, an affix that attached at the end of word. For example; word paint becomes painting by attaching suffix '-ing'
• Infix, an affix that placed within word. For example; word cupful can be as plural as cupsful by inserting the plural 's' as an affix.
• Circumfix; an affix which attach to both the beginning and the end of a word. For example; word imagine can be made into unimaginable by attaching prefix 'un-' and suffix '-able'

Root is form which cannot reduce anymore. Base is a form which bigger than form origin.

From the picture above we can see that the word teach is a root for teacher and teachers. Teacher is a base for teachers, and also a stamp/stem (a root plus another element, and it becomes base for bigger element). Teach cannot becomes a base because base is a form which bigger than form origin.

PRODUCTIVITY IN AFFIX

In English language, affix -ness is productive. For example;

1. Happiness
2. Brightness
3. Illness
4. Darkness
5. Awareness
6. Witness
7. And so on..

In Indonesia, affix ber- is productive. For example;

1. Bermain
2. Bertanya
3. Berlari
4. Bernyanyi
5. Bertelur
6. Berhasil
7. And so on...

In Sundanese, affix -ar is productive. For example;

1. Barudak
2. Arulin
3. Rarepot
4. Daratang
5. Baralik
6. Nyareri
7. Parait
8. Paraeh
9. And so on...