Morphology 3
Trương Văn Ánh
Trường Đại học Sài Gòn
Chapter 3
WORDS
A word is the smallest segment of speech that can be used alone, and at which pausing is possible.
Ex: They call up their roommates.
(they, call up, their, roommates are four words, and no pauses are possible between the two elements of each word).
There are three main classes of words: simple words, complex (or derived) words, and compound words.
Notes: derived = derivational
1. Simple words are composed of a single free morpheme. Ex: high, table, Argentina
2. Complex (or derived) words include either two bound morphemes, or a bound and a free form.
Ex: Two bound forms: televise, sentiment, consent
A bound and a free form: telephone, telekiss, happiness, dishonest, nonsense
3. Compound words have two or more free morphemes.
Ex: Sweetheart, time-table, forget-me-not.
Notes: Compound words must have figurative meaning (>< literal meaning).
Sometimes, it is difficult to decide if the word is a compound word or a group of words (grammatical structure).
There are three ways to see the difference.
3.a. Structural integrity:
We cannot add any word to the middle of two morphemes of compound words.
Ex: It is a greenhouse. (compound word)
It is a green wooden house. (a group of words = grammatical structure)
3.b. Semantic criterion:
The meaning of a compound word is idiomatic, not the sum of the meaning of the words (grammatical structure).
Ex: He has an iron heart. (He is not kind)
He has a heavy iron heart. (He has a heart-shaped thing which is heavy)
3.c. Phonetic criterion:
Most compound words have the main stress over the first word. A group of words (grammatical structure) has the main stress over the second word.
Ex: A swímming teàcher (a compound word)
A swìmming teácher (a group of words)
Notes: ‘ main stress.
` secondary stress.
Abbreviation:
S simple word
Cx Complex word
Cd Compound word
Gs Grammatical structure
Indicate whether each italicized expression is a compound word (Cd) or a grammatical structure (Gs). Pay no attention to hyphens or spaces, for these are deceptive:
1. Jim’s new car is a hardtop. ______
2. This jar has a rather hard top. ______
3. It was a jack-in-the-box. ______
4. There was a plant in the box. ______
5. A hót dòg is not a hòt dóg. ______
6. He has a dog in the manger attitude. ____
7. She has a strong hold on him. ______
8. She has a stronghold in the Women’s Club. ______
9. George found his father-in-law. ______
10. George found his father in trouble. ______
11. They bought it on the black market. ______
12. The electricity went off, and we were caught in a black completely lightless, market. ______
13. Agatha is a desígning teàcher. ______
14. Agatha is a desìgning teácher. ______
For a view of the three classes of words, identify the following items with these symbols:
S simple word
Cx Complex word
Cd Compound word
Gs Grammatical structure
Make the IC cuts for Cx and Cd.
1. Shárpshòoter _________
2. Shàrp shóoter _________
3. act __________
4. react __________
5. rattlesnake __________
6. passbook __________
7. apparatus __________
8. glowworm __________
9. import __________
10. ripcord __________
11. unearth __________
12. stick-in-the-mud __________
State whether the following groups of words are compounds or free word-groups, making use of different criteria:
1. Sweet voice
2. Sweet potato
3. White coffee
4. white-wash
5. White house
6. Hígh-prèssure

7. Hìgh tíde
8. Rèd méat
9. Red eyes
10. Red tap
11. Réd Cròss
12. Gold fish
13. Góld rìng
14. Gólden Àges
15. Golden wedding (50th)









Good luck!