Affixation

Affixation is the formation of words by adding derivational affixes to different types of bases. Delived words formed by affixation may be the result of one or several applications of word-formation rules, and thus the stems of words making up a word-cluster enter into derivational relations of different degrees. The zero degree of derivation is ascribed to simple words (haste). Derived words whose bases are built on simple stems and thus are formed by the application of one derivational affix are described as having the first degree of derivation (hasty). Derived words formed by two consecutive stages of coining possess the second degree of derivation (hastily). Affixation is subdivided into suffixation and prefixation. Distinction between prefixal and suffixal derivatives is made according to the last stage of derivation. The last stage of derivation determines the nature of the ICs of the pattern. In terrns of the constituent morphemes the words reappearance, unreasonable are qualified as prefixal-suffixal derivatives. From the point of view of derivational analysis these words are prefixal (un- + -reasonable) and suffixal (reappear- + -ance).

In Modern English suffixation is mostly characteristic of noun and adjective formation, while prefixation is rnostly typical of verb formation.

Prefixation

Prefixation is the formation of words with the help of prefixes. There are 51 prefixes in the system of Modern English word-formation. Two types of prefixes are to be distinguished:

1) those not correlated with any independent word (unr, dis-, -re);

2) those correlated with functional words (prepositions or adverbs) (out-, over-, under-, up-). In English there are about 25 convertive prefixes, i.e. those which can transfer words to a different part of-speech in comparison with their original stems (gulf n — to begulf v, bus n — to debus v). There are also non-convertive prefixes in English (to read — to reread).

Classification of Prefixes

Diachronically prefixes are classified into prefixes of native and foreign origin. Synchronically prefixes may be classified:

1) according to the class of words they preferable form, 5 prefixes may be referred to ex-clusively verb-forming (en-, be-, un-, etc.); 42 prefixes function in adjectives (un, im-, il-, ir-, pre-) and 42 — in nouns (non-, ex-, mal-).

2) As to the type ofiexical-grammatical character of the base they are added to prefixes are classified into: a) deverbal (rewSe, overdo); b) denominal (unbutton, detrain); c) deadjectival, e.g. (uneasy, biannual).

3) Semantically prefixes fall into mono- and polysemantic ex — means "former"; the prefix dis- has 3 meanings: "the reverse of (disapprove); "to cease to" (to discontinue); "to deprive of (to disbranch).

4) As to the generic denotational meaning there are different groups that are distinguished in linguistic literature:

a) negative prefixes (un2-, non-, in-, dis2-, a- (ungrateful, non-politician, disloyal, incorrect, amoral);

b) reversative (un, de-, dis- (antie, decentralise, disconnect);

c) pejorative prefixes (mis-, mal-, pseudo-) (miscalculate, maltreat, pseudo-classicism);

d) prefixes of time and order (fore-, pre-, post-, ex-) (foretell, pre-war, post-war, ex-president);

e) prefixes of repetition (re-) (rebuild, re-write);

f) locative prefixes (super-, sub-, inter-, trans-) (e.g. superstructure, subway, inter-continental, trans-atlantic).

5. From the point of view of stylistic reference prefixes fall into those characterized by neutral stylistic reference and those possessing quite a definite stylistic value. The prefixes un1 -, un2-, out-, over-, re-, under- can be qualified as neutral prefixes (unnatural, unlace, oversee). We perceive the literary-bookish character of the prefixes pseudo-, super-, ultra- uni-, bi- (pseudo-classical, ultra-violet, bifocal).

6. Prefixes may be also classified as to the degree of productivity into highly productive, productive and non-productive.