Have you ever been curious about the creation of new words? Today, we will delve into one method of word formation called derivation. We will discuss the meaning of derivation in English grammar and the process of creating derivatives. Additionally, we will explore examples and distinguish between derivation, zero derivation, and inflection.
In English grammar, derivation refers to the formation of a new word by adding affixes to an existing one. These affixes come in two forms - prefixes, added to the beginning of a word, and suffixes, added to the end.
Derivation is considered a type of neologism, involving the creation and utilization of new words.
Derivatives can be formed through two methods:
Derivations follow various patterns depending on the type of affix added. When a suffix is added, the word form usually changes and the word class (e.g. noun, verb, adjective) may also change. For instance, adding a suffix can alter a word's class as shown in the following examples:
However, there are instances where adding a suffix does not change a word's class, as seen in the formation of 'pinkish' from 'pink'.
Suffixes can also be added to a noun or a verb, resulting in different word classes:
When a prefix is added to a word, the word form changes, but the word class usually remains the same. For example:
Knowing how to use 'derivation' in a sentence is crucial. For instance:
'The process of creating a word by adding affixes is known as derivation.'
The resulting word, formed through derivation, is known as a derivative of the root word. For example:
Carefully is a derivative of the word careful.
The added affixes during derivation are called derivational affixes. For example:
Now, let's take a look at some more examples of derivation:
In this case, the verb 'call' changes its word class to a noun, but the word form remains the same.
Derivation and inflection are often confused, as both involve the use of affixes. However, they have distinct meanings:
Call (verb) ⇨ Call (noun)
Eat → Eating → Eaten
To recap, here are the key points to remember about derivation and inflection:
When it comes to affixes and words, derivation and zero derivation are two distinct processes, each with its own unique characteristics.
Derivation involves taking an existing word and adding affixes, such as prefixes or suffixes, to the root of the word to create a new word. These affixes change the meaning of the original word and may alter its word class.
Some common examples of derivation include:
A derivative is a new word formed from an existing root word through the process of derivation. This means that affixes have been added to the original word to create a new one.
While derivation involves modifying a word by adding affixes, zero derivation takes a different approach. Instead of changing the word's form, it creates a new word using the same form as the original one. However, the word class may still be altered.
Inflection is another process that involves adding affixes to words. However, unlike derivation, inflection only changes the form of a word to indicate grammatical meaning while the word class remains the same.
