19. Different types of morphemes (m).

The m. is a meaningful segmental component of the word. In traditional grammar the study of the morphemic structure of the word was conducted in the light of the two basic criteria: positional criterion and semantic or functional criterion. The combination of these two criteria in an integral description led to the rational classification of m. that is widely used both in research linguistic work and in practical lingual tuition. In accord with the traditional classification, m. on the upper level are divided into root-morphemes (roots) and affixal morphemes (affixes). The roots express the concrete, “material” part of the meaning of the word, while the affixes express the specificational part of the meaning of the word, the specifications being of lexico-semantic and grammatico-semantic character. The roots of the notional words are classical lexical m.. The affixal m. include prefixes, suffixes, and inflections. Of these, prefixes and lexical suffixes have word-building functions, together with the root they form the stem of the word; inflections (gram. suffixes) express different morphological categories. The root, according to the positional content of the term (i.e. the border-area between prefixes and suffixes), is obligatory for any word, while affixes are not obligatory. Therefore one and the same morphemic segment of functional status, depending on various morphemic environments, can in principle be used now as an affix (mostly, a prefix), now as a root (throughout, outing, outlook, look-out).

Distributional morpheme types:

1. On the basis of the degree of self-dependence, “free” and “bound” m. are distinguished. Bound m. cannot form words by themselves, they are identified only as component segmental parts of words. Free m. can build up words by themselves, i.e. can be used freely.

2. On the basis of formal presentation, “overt” and “covert” m. are distinguished. Overt m. are genuine m. building up words; the covert m. is identified as a contrastive absence of m. expressing a certain function (zero m.).

3. On the basis of segmental relation, “segmental” and “supra-segmental” m. are distinguished. Supra-segmental are: intonation contours, accents, pauses.

4. On the basis of gram. alternation, “additive” and “replacive” m. are distinguished. Interpreted as additive m. are outer gram. suffixes, since they are opposed to the absence of m. in gram. alternation (e.g. look + ed, small + er). In distinction to these, the root phonemes of gram. interchange are considered as replacive m., since they replace one another in the paradigmatic forms (e.g. dr-i-ve, dr-o-ve, dr-i-ven).

5. On the basis of linear characteristic, “continuous” and “discontinuous” m. are distinguished. By the discontinuous m., opposed to the common, i.e. uninterruptedly expressed, continuous m., a two-element gram. unit is meant which is identified in the analytical gram. form comprising an auxiliary word and a gram. suffix (e.g. be…ing – for continuous verb form; have…en – for perfect verb form