SUFFIXATION

The main function of suffixes in Modern English is to form one part of speech from another, the secondary function is to change the lexical meaning of the same part of speech, (e.g. educate is a verb, educatee is a noun, and music is a noun, musicdom is also a noun).

There are different classifications of suffixes:

1. Part-of speech classification. Suffixes which can form different parts of speech are given here:

a) noun-forming suffixes, such as: - er (criticizer), -dom (officialdom), -ism (ageism);

b) adjective-forming suffixes, such as: - able (breathable), -less (symptomless), -ous (prestigious);

c) verb-forming suffixes, such as: – ize (computerize), -ify (identify), -en (shorten);

d) adverb- forming suffixes, such as: ly (singly), -ward (backward, -wise (jet-wise);

e) numeral-forming suffixes, such as: -teen (sixteen), -ty (seventy);

2. Semantic classification. Suffixes changing the lexical meaning of the stem can be subdivided into groups, e.g. noun-forming suffixes can denote:

a) the agent of the action, e.g. - er (experimenter), -ist (taxist), -ent (student);

b) nationality, e.g. - ian (Russian), -ese (Japanese), -ish (English);

c) collectivity, e.g. -dom (moviedom), -ry (peasantry), -ship (readership), -ati (literati);

d) diminutiveness, e.g. -ie (horsie), -let (booklet), -ling (gooseling), -ette (kitchenette), -y (hanky), -ock (hillock);

e) quality, e.g. –ess (copelessness), -ity (answerability);

f) absract notion, e.g. -hood (childhood), -ness (politeness), _ence/ance (tolerance);

g) derogatory meaning, e.g. -ard, (drunkard), -ster, (ganster), -ling (underling);

3. Lexico-grammatical character of the stem. Suffixes which can be added to certain groups of stems are subdivided into:

a) suffixes added to verbal stems, such as: -er (commuter), -ing (suffering), -able (flyable), -ment (involvement), -ation (computerization);

b) suffixes added to noun stems, such as: -less (smogless), -ful, (roomful), -ism (adventurism), -ster (pollster), -nik (filmnik), -ish (childish); -

c) suffixes added to adjective stems, such as: -en (weaken), -ly (pinkly), -ish (longish), -ness (clannishness).

4. Origin of suffixes. Here we can point out the following groups:

a) native (Germanic), such as: - er (teacher, -ful (careful), -less (painless), -ly (swiftly), -dom (kingdom), - ed (talented), -en (soften), -hood (childhood), -ing (building), -ish (childish), -ness (kindness), -ship (friendship), -teen (sixteen), -ty (seventy), -ward (homeward);

b) Romanic, such as: - tion (attention), -ment (development), -able/ible (terrible, moveable), -eer (mountaneer), -ant/ent (student, pleasant), -age (carriage), -ard (drunkard), -ance/ence (attendance, absence), -ate (dictate), -sy (flimsy);

c) Greek, such as: ist (taxist), - ism (capitalism), -ize (organize);

d) Russian, such as: -nik (filmnik).

The term borrowed affixes is not very exact as affixes are never borrowed as such, but only as parts of borrowed words. To enter the morphological system of the English language a borrowed affix has to satisfy certain conditions. The borrowing of an affix is possible only if the number of words containing this affix is considerable, if its meaning and function are definite and clear enough, and also if its structural pattern corresponds to the structural patterns already existing in the language.

5. Productivity. Here we can point out the following groups:

a) productive, such as: - er (dancer), -ize (specialize), -ly (wetly), -ness(closeness);

b) Semi-productive, such as: - eer, (profiteer), -ette (kitchenette), -ward (skyward);

c) non-productive, such as:- ard (drunkard), -th (length);

6.Structure. Here we can point out:

a) simple, such as:- er (speaker), -ist (taxist);

b) compound, such as: -ical (ironical), -ation (formation),-manship (sportsmanship), -ably/ibly (terribly, reasonably)..

Suffixes can be polysemantic, e.g. - er can form nouns with the following meanings: agent, doer of the action expressed by the stem (speaker), profession, occupation (teacher), a device, a tool (transmitter).

There are also disputable cases whether we have a suffix or a root morpheme in the structure of a word. In such cases we called such morphemes semi-affixes, and words with such affixes can be classified either as affixed words or as compound words, e.g. - gate (Irangate), -burger (cheeseburger), -aholic (workaholic), -man (postman) etc.

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