See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/353428269

The use of affixation in academic English: A lexical explanation on affixation,

root and meaning

Article in Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review · July 2021

DOI: 10.4038/jsshr.v5i4.62

CITATIONS READS

5 5,225

1 author:

Abeyweera G.H.
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, Badulla
23 PUBLICATIONS 7 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Abeyweera G.H. on 03 February 2023.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR)
Vol. 5, No. 4 (179-190)
© Author(s) 2020
ISSN: 2279-3933
Original Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jsshr.v5i4.62

The use of affixation in academic English: A lexical explanation on

affixation, root and meaning
G.H. Abeyweera
Department of English
Abstract Language Teaching,
Uva Wellassa University
This research paper attempts to provide a detailed lexical explanation on of Sri Lanka
‘the use of affixation in academic English in the context of word formation.
abey@uwu.ac.lk
The use of affixation in words may lead to word formation contributing to
sentence construction while sentence construction leading into paragraph
creations. The research further illustrates how meaning of the words/ lexis is
changed with affixation together with the functional change with affixations
when words are combined into sentences. The analysis is mainly focused on
affixations linked to word and thereby changing the meaning of lexis used
in the context of sentence constructions. Data required for the research is
taken mainly from the documents search in relation to language study and
such other materials in the study of affixations. The methodology used in
this research is document checklists methods for gathering sufficient data.
The interpretation of the use of affixation shall facilitate the students,
practitioners and future researchers in comprehending the use of affixation
in producing creative, innovative and meaningful texts in all types of
writings particularly in academic writing.

Keywords: affixation, functionalities, interpretations, lexis, writing

179
 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR)
Vol. 5, No. 4 (179-190)
© Author(s) 2020
ISSN: 2279-3933
Original Article

INTRODUCTION as changing a noun to a verb or

changing a verb to an adjective etc. it is
Affixation is the process by which
also noteworthy, suffixes which are
words are created either in a different
derivational change parts of speech
form of the particular word or a new
which they also change the meaning of
word with a different meaning.
the words to which they are affixed.
Morpheme is the smallest meaningful
Ingo Plag (2003) states that derivation
unit in a language which is used in
plays a role as the new-words
creating different form of a word or a
formation as in the case below.
new word. In this sense, an affix is a
morpheme attached to a stem (core/ Derivations
root or basic) of a word to create new
Worker employee
words. In English language, words are
Useless inventor
created by affixing morphemes to
Untruthfulness inability
roots of words. According to Bauer
and Katamba (2009), affixation is Meaningless
considered as the process of fixing
Curiosity unhappy
affixes: prefixes, suffixes and infixes to
Passivize decolonization
the stem of the given word or words.
Terrorism suddenness
Katamba (2009) further illustrates the
fact that affixation is generally Although derivation in particular
illustrated as the bound morphemes encodes lexical meaning, it is not
which are used in amalgamation with syntactically relevant yet it can occur
other morphemes such as root or stem. inside the derivation. Derivation often
changes the parts of speech albeit it is
According to researchers, for instance
semantically impervious. It also must
Clark (2009) articulates that those
be born in mind that derivation is not
affixes are used in identifying and
restricted to suffixation although there
analyzing the complex words with
are restrictions in their productivity.
reference to their meaning. The
affixation particularly analyzes the Most of the words in English
internal structure of given words for Language can consist of their stem/
they are used as building blocks in a basic/ root or the core to which one or
complex word. In addition, the more affixes are attached at the
derivation of new words is dependent beginning: the prefixes or at the end of
upon the fixing or affixing either the root: the suffixes (2014, Kennedy).
prefixes or suffixes to the root or the Most of the words are created by the
stem of a word or existing lexis. In use of affixation in English Language
English Language, derivational and studying affixation in the context
prefixes change the meaning of the of Academic English will facilitate the
words to which they are fixed whilst language learners to identify and
some change the parts of speech such

180
 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR)
Vol. 5, No. 4 (179-190)
© Author(s) 2020
ISSN: 2279-3933
Original Article

understand the meaning of the most the plural forms. For examples,
frequently used affixation. It also passersby, spoonful etc. Infix can be
must remember that it is not that much exemplified as the word bumili
convenient in sorting out the root form where ‘um’ is infixed.
of all the words for in vocabulary
building, borrowing, spelling Aronoff (2011) definition on affixation
adjustments in some of the cases and slightly differs from the above.
pronunciation has a long history. In According to him, a few affixes are
other terms, borrowing words from added to the stem of the word. They
other languages is one of the ways of are;
words formation where it is difficult to
i. Re- affixes which go before the
find out the basic form of the
stem are called prefixes. E.g.,
particular word.
Revisit, recover etc.
Prior to concentrating on affixation, it ii. Ation- affixes which go after the
is noteworthy to look at basic elements stem of the word called suffixes.
that are most relevant in affixation. E.g., creation, accusation etc.
Accordingly, iii. Infixes according to Aronoff are not
either added to the before or after
a. Root: a root is the base part of the the stem word but rather they are
word. When changing the meaning fixed in the middle of the word
of a given word, a prefix can be which are called segmental strings.
added to the front of the word root
or a suffix can also be added to the LITERATURE REVIEW
back of the given word and usually
prefixes and suffixes are added to As stated in the introduction with little
the root of a given word in review of a few contributors on word-
changing the meaning. formation, affixation plays a major
b. Prefixes: they are attached before to role. It is the morphological processes
the root word in changing the adding phonological materials to a
meaning. For instance, the word root of a word to change its meaning,
‘de-construct’ “de” is the prefix syntactic properties or of both
attached to the base form elements (Stranzy, 2005). In other
‘construct’. terms, grammatical or lexical
c. Suffixes: these are attached to the properties are added to the basic or
end of the root word. For example, stem of the given word of which they
the word ‘reasonable’ ‘able’ is are called prefixation, suffixation or
added as the suffix in inflating the infixation. According to T. Robert
meaning. (1993), an affix is a bound morpheme
d. Infixes: infixes are comparatively that is often attached to the stem of the
very rare in English Language word. Although, several definitions
usage and often they are found in are given on affixation, still few
181
 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR)
Vol. 5, No. 4 (179-190)
© Author(s) 2020
ISSN: 2279-3933
Original Article

confusions are available in the grammatical or lexical information to a

connection. Firstly, it is not that easy to stem or root or the base is known as
determine something whether as a affixation: prefixation, suffixation and
bound morpheme or a free morpheme infixation.
and secondly it is not possible to
regard something as a root, stem or
METHODOLOGY
basic or an affix. According to Robins
(1971), a bound morpheme ought to Hsieh, H.F. & Shannon, S.E. (2005)
appear at least with one another simply define that the descriptive
morpheme which can occur if attached research attempts to explain certain
to some other. According to Bauer words, themes or concepts within
(1993), affixes are obligatorily bound some qualitative data collected. They
as it is not particularly obvious the further explain using content analysis,
difference between bound root and an researchers analyze the presence, the
affix might be. He further clarifies that meaning and relationships of some
the root or the stem or the basic is the words and how meaning is generated
form that it is not further analyzable in the application of the methods. In
either in terms of derivational or line with this, the research attempts
inflectional morphology. In other providing a lexical explanation
terms, affix is the central evaluating the affixation used in
morphologically meaningful element words in their derivations and their
of the word to which affixes can be meaning. As Robin (2010) explains as
attached. the descriptive research attempts to
describe characteristics of the given
David Crystal (2008) states that affixes data, this research paper too attempts
are limited number in a language, and describe characteristics of affixation
are generally are classified into three and the change of meaning when
categories depending on their position affixes are added to the root or the
with reference to the root or the stem basic form of the given words. For this
of the word: those which are attached research a few selected documents
to the beginning of the root or the stem were taken for data collection as
are called prefixes e.g., Unhappy; primary data based on which the
those which follow are called suffixes descriptive lexical explanation was
as in the case of happiness and then carried out.
those which occur within the root or
the stem are called infixes. There are
some other less common terms that FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
include circumfix or ambifix for a
Affixes are bound morphemes that are
combination of prefixes and suffixes as
often attached to the bases of the
in the case of en-light-en. The
word. Though, this definition is
morphological process whether adds
succinct, still a clarification ought to be

182
 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR)
Vol. 5, No. 4 (179-190)
© Author(s) 2020
ISSN: 2279-3933
Original Article

made. Firstly, it is not easy to explain orders, in the case of anonymous

that something is a bound morpheme meaning with a name but not in fame
or a free morpheme while on the other or exact name is not known.
hand it is not often obvious whether
something should be regarded as a Example: The author of this book is
base or an affix. anonymous.

Putative affixes: error-free tests, Myanmar is an anarchy now.

education-wise are all derivatives
ab~: means being away or not being
Neoclassical elements in words present as in the case of absent or of
formation: biochemistry, biorhythm, abduction of which the later meaning
biowarfare, photographs, geology, taking somebody away illegally.
biology, neurology
Example: Kalindu was absent yesterday.
Phonologically neutral suffixes:
The news reported about an
propag’anda, propag’andaless,
abduction of a businessman in Negombo.
adv’enturous, adv’ebturousness,
radi’ation, radi’ationless, art’iculate, alter~: means another or substitute as
art’iculateness, m’anagerless etc. in the case of alternative meaning
another option or in the case of alter-
Although a few types of affixations
ego which means another personality.
albeit not familiar have been
mentioned, the intention of this paper Example: There is an alternative solution
is to provide a lexical explanation on if we carefully study this matter.
affixation in English Language and to
demonstrate ˜with few illustrations as It is evident from the discussion
to how meaning is changed or altered that there is an alter-ego in the group
with the affixation. which often manager
considers to be pain in the neck.
Since affixation is discussed at a
considerable length, it is noteworthy to anti~: does mean against something as
discuss how meaning is changed with in the case of antisocial or anti-ragging
the affixation: that is adding both meaning against something or
prefixes and suffixes. Firstly, there are someone as in the following examples.
some frequently used prefixes in
English Language. Example: He was antisocial from the
beginning in the varsity.
Prefixes
Ola Chulani was an anti-
a~, an~: these two prefixes do mean ragging student in those olden days.
not, without or lacking in as in the case
of anarchy which mean without

183
 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR)
Vol. 5, No. 4 (179-190)
© Author(s) 2020
ISSN: 2279-3933
Original Article

auto~: does mean the self as in the case contr~: does mean against or opposite
of autobiography meaning biography of something as in the case of
written by oneself. contradict meaning expressing
opposing views or in the case of
Example: He has published his controversy meaning public argument
autobiography last year before his death. over a something people widely
disagree with.
It is an automobile car which
runs on its own power. Example: The Lawyers’ views contradict
with the government’s proposal.
bi~: does mean two as in the case of
bicycle or in the case of biannual as Now a days, there is a
follows; controversy over Port-city project.

Example: Bicycle is a vehicle ridden by culp~: means feeling guilt or at fault as

pedals. in the case of culprit meaning someone
who has done something wrong or
This is a biannual journal where
illegal or in the case of culpable
people can publish their research.
meaning blameworthy as follows.
bio~: means life or related to the life as
Example: The High Court enacted a
in the case of biology meaning the
verdict on the culprit.
study of living things or in the case of
biography which is the Chaminda is culpable for
destroying not only his section but the
Example: Biology is the study of living
entire institution.
things.
demo~: means of or related to people
Kadirgamar’s biography was
as in the case of democracy meaning
written by Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha
government of people pr in the case of
co~: does mean together or supportive demographics meaning about the date
as in the case of cooperation meaning relating to people as in the below
working together or in the case of examples.
coordinate meaning enabling people to
Example: There is no democracy at
work together.
present albeit they articulate democracy
Example: Your unstinted cooperation is for people is a must.
highly appreciated.
It has been proved by the
Secretary General’s role is to demographics taken from the Department
coordinate the peace process. of Census and Statistics

184
 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR)
Vol. 5, No. 4 (179-190)
© Author(s) 2020
ISSN: 2279-3933
Original Article

dis~: meaning not or the opposite of as something unpleasant at times to

in the case of disinformation meaning make it acceptable.
false information provided
deliberately or disprove to say Example: He understood underline
something or someone is wrong or motive of his eulogy.
false as in the following examples.
Euphemism is a literary
Examples: It was detected in the inquiry technique used in literary creation.
that they have provided disinformation
ex~: means former or previous as in
regarding the robbery.
the case of ex-wife or ex-headmaster
The evidence provided were meaning or referring to the previous
disproved at the Court. one as in the case of the following
examples.
dynam~: does mean movement or
power as in the case of dynamite or in Examples: His ex-wife was a teacher in a
the case of dynamics meaning private school.
science of force involving in the
The ex-Headmaster of the
movement as follows;
college was a strict disciplinarian.
Examples: Many people catch fish using
hypo~: does mean below or under as
dynamites.
in the case of hypodermic syringe or in
My son is dynamic boy in the the case of hypocrite meaning
college. pretending to have moral standard but
truly not as below;
eco~: meaning home or related to
homely environment as in the case of Examples: It is a hypodermic syringe for
economy or in the case of ecology Covid 19 patients.
meaning creatures living in a
His behavior demonstrates to
particular environment as in the
be a hypocrite.
examples below.
in~: means to not or in the negative
Examples: During Covid 19, our
sense as in the case of inability that is
economy is not in a healthy state.
not being able to or in the case
The government should take inaudible meaning to being able to
initiatives to protect our ecosystem. hear.

eu~: does mean good as in the case of Examples: His teaching demonstrates his
eulogy meaning praising about inability to teach in an advanced class.
someone or in the case of euphemism
Her speech was inaudible for
meaning indirectly referring to
majority of the meeting.

185
 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR)
Vol. 5, No. 4 (179-190)
© Author(s) 2020
ISSN: 2279-3933
Original Article

mal~: does mean negative meaning multilingual community as following

bad as in the case of malnutrition examples.
meaning poor state of healthy due to
vitamins or in the case of malice Examples: It basically provides multiple
meaning feeling of hatred for someone options to operate the machine.
as follows.
Many villages in India speak
Examples: Malnutrition is a major several languages and thus become
problem in developing countries. multilingual.

My mother could not tolerate non~: does mean not or no as in the

the malice of her daughters-in-law case of nonacademic or in the case of
nonsense meaning no sense at all.
maxi~: means most or majority as in
maximum meaning the greatest Examples: Nonacademic union is on
number or in the case of maximal strike for demanding a salary hike.
meaning as large as possible as in the
He often speaks nonsense not
following examples.
knowing the vision and mission of the
Example: The principal put the maximum organization.
effort to keep the classes moving amidst
out~: does mean greater, better or
Covid pandemic.
further as in the case of outsmart or in
His effort to combat Covid 19 the case of outperform meaning doing
pandemic was maximal. better than someone else as in the
following examples.
mini~: does mean small or tiny as in
the case of miniskirt meaning short- Examples: His works proved him to be an
skirt or in the case of minimum outsmart boy in the programme.
meaning smallest possible as in the
Enuka outperformed in the
case of minimum number.
classroom.
Examples: Tina often used to wear
It is observed from the above prefixes
miniskirts to the office.
used in the selective examples in the
The minimum number of sentences created that prefixes derive
patients that can be accommodated is different form of the words to which
fifteen. they are attached. In most of the cases,
prefixes change the meaning of the
multi~: meaning many choices as in words when they are attached to the
the case of multiple options or in the root or the stem of the given words. In
case of multilingual as in the case of other words, prefixes modify the
meaning of a word as in the case of

186
 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR)
Vol. 5, No. 4 (179-190)
© Author(s) 2020
ISSN: 2279-3933
Original Article

‘post’ meaning after or following as in They proposed to introduce a

the example of ‘postnatal’ meaning new study programme to the university.
after birth. The meaning of the word
‘natal’ is about birth but when the retro~: meaning backwards as in the
prefix ‘post’ is added it becomes case of in retrospect meaning thinking
‘postnatal’ meaning after birth and thus about something how had happened
it changes the meaning when prefixes in the past or in retrograde meaning
are added to the stem of the words. returning to how something was in the
The prefixes can make the words past as in the following examples.
negative, show repetition or can
Examples: Speaking in retrospect, it was
indicate opinions.
an exciting experience contributing to
This can be further illustrated using a establish a university.
few more most frequently used
Retrograding was always
prefixes by means of using the such
important to look at how something had
prefixes attaching them to the roots of
happened in its establishment.
the words to understand the change of
the meaning when prefixes are added. sub~: meaning below, under or lesser
as in the case of substandard meaning
pre~: does mean before as in the case
not as good as normal or in the case of
of prediction meaning a statement of
subway train meaning underground as
what would happen as in the
in the following examples.
following example.
Examples: He has published his paper in
Examples: My prediction about him is
a substandard journal.
that he will never march forward if he
behaves in this manner. We wonder when we will be
able to hear about subway trains in Sri
It was the prediction of the
Lanka.
principal about his present position as he
performed well. un~: means the opposite of or not as in
the case of unattractive meaning not
pro~: means in favor of or supporting
attractive or in the case of undeniable
as in the case of promotion meaning
as in the case of undeniable evidence
the next step in a position or in the
as below,
case of propose meaning putting
forward a plan for something as Example: It was an unattractive
below, decoration.

Examples: His promotion was due in They produced undeniable

October 2021 evidence for his forge signatures.

187
 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR)
Vol. 5, No. 4 (179-190)
© Author(s) 2020
ISSN: 2279-3933
Original Article

uni~: does mean single or one as Examples: In a democracy people can vote
uniform meaning special dress code as they wish.
for a organization or in the case of
unity meaning together being one as in An aristocracy is the rule of
the following examples. many by a few.

Examples: All the member of Brandix ~dom: does mean condition or state of
must wear their uniform. as in the case of freedom or boredom as
in the below examples.
Unity among diversity should
be the motto of a multi-community. Examples: I value my freedom above
anything else.
Suffixes
My pressure is due to the
As opposed to prefixes, suffixes are boredom of my junior indiscipline people.
placed at the end of the root or base
form of the word. The role of a suffix is ~fusion: meaning mixing together as
to transform a word into a new part of in the case of confusion or in the case of
speech in English Language as a noun transfusion as follows.
can be transformed into an adjective
Examples: All his ideas have created a
whilst a verb transforming into a noun
confusion in the examination.
etc. For example, if we add suffix ‘ish’
to the noun; ‘baby’ it becomes ‘babyish’ Doctors warned the transfusion
an adjective. A few most frequently of blood at this hour of need.
used suffixes which are used in
English Language is utilized as follow ~hood: meaning state or quality of as
in exemplifying how suffixes in the case of brotherhood or in the case
transform the parts of speech from one of priesthood as follows.
category to another.
Examples: My brotherhood is on top of
~able: does mean can be or has the everything in my family life.
quality as in the case of usable or
reasonable as below example. His priesthood started from his
early childhood.
Examples: This vehicle is still in the
usable condition ~ism: meaning state or quality of or
teaching of as in the case of alcoholism
I am still being very or Buddhism as in the following
reasonable about the impeachment. examples.

~cracy: means government or rule as Examples: Alcoholism is increasingly a

in the case of democracy or aristocracy serious problem in our country today.
as in the following examples.

188
 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR)
Vol. 5, No. 4 (179-190)
© Author(s) 2020
ISSN: 2279-3933
Original Article

Buddhism is the predominant infixation. Prefixes often are added to

religion in Sri Lanka. the root, stem or the base of the word
and they change the meaning of the
~ize/ise: meaning become or make as words. As opposed to prefixes,
in the case of materialize or in the case suffixes when added to the end of the
of jeopardize or organize as in the word transform the word category
below examples. from one category to another.
Studying about affixation in English
Examples: It was materialized after a
Language will facilitate any leaner to
successful review.
become familiar with word formation
The programme was organized and thereby improves the
in such a way to attract a huge gathering. understanding of the vocabulary
required for a rich communication in
~mania: does mean uncontrollable English Language.
belief or desire as in the case of
References
kleptomania or in the case
Aronoff, M., Fudeman K. (2011). What is
megalomaniac meaning unnatural
Morphology. New York, Cambridge
strong wish for power thinking that University Press.
they are much more important and Clark, Eve V. (2009). First Language Acquisition.
powerful than they really are. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Onysko, A., Michel, S. (2010). Cognitive
Examples: A Kleptomaniac can not stop Perspective in Word Formation. De
stealing things. Gruyter Mouton Publisher
Plag, I. (2002). Word-Formation in English.
Cambridge University Press
He was a megalomaniac as he
Paterson, K., Wedge, R. (2018). Oxford
loved power. Grammar for EAP: English Grammar and
Practice for Academic Purposes. Oxford
University Press.
CONCLUSION
Bauer, L. (1983). English Word-Formation.
Cambridge University Press
In English Language affixation plays a
Katamba, F. (1994). English Words. Routledge,
pivotal role in the word formation London
process. Affixation is the process or Hilpert, M. (2013). Constructional Change in
adding a morpheme or an affix to a English: Developments in Allomorphy,
word to create either a different form Word Formation and Syntax. Cambridge
University Press
of the particular word or a new word
Adams, V. (1973). An Introduction to Modern
with a different meaning and it is the English Word Formation. Longman
common way of making new words in Muehleisen, S. (2010). Heterogeneity in word-
English Language. Although, formation patterns: a corpus-based analysis
affixation involves prefixes, suffixes of suffixation with -ee and its productivity
in English. John Benjamins Pub. Co.
and infixes, frequently prefixes and
suffixes are in usage than that of

189
 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR)
Vol. 5, No. 4 (179-190)
© Author(s) 2020
ISSN: 2279-3933
Original Article
Crystal, D. (2008). A Dictionary of Linguistics
and Phonetics. UK: Blackwell Publishing
Ltd.
Robins, H. (1971). General Linguistics: An
Introductory Survey. London: Longman
Group Ltd.

190

View publication stats