Claudia M.

Bensa BSED English 1-D

EDENG 100-Introduction to Linguistics

Prelim Examination

III. Exposition

Directions: In not more than ten (10) sentences, answer the following questions:

A. There are basically six(6) Morphological Processes. Choose one (1) and explain the process and give
examples.

 Among the six Morphological Processes, I choose Prefixation. It is a morphological process

whereby a bound morpheme is attached to the front of a root or stem. The type of affix used in
this process is called prefix—a prefix is an affix which is placed before the stem of a word which
causes the word changes or make different meaning into ..another word. Some examples of
prefixes are mis-, un-, re-, dis-, im- and so much more to mention. These are the following
examples of prefixation.
1. mis+interpret = misinterpret ( Interpret means to explain or to tell meaning but when we
add the prefix mis- to the word interpret the meaning changes. Misinterpret means failure to
understand or interpret correctly).
2. un+ interested= uninterested (Interested means having an interest in something or being
concerned but when we add the prefix un-, the meaning of a word changes. Uninterested
means not interested in or concerned about something or someone.
3. re + start= restart ( Start means to begin at one point and then move to another, in distance
or range but when we add a prefix re- at the beginning of the word, the meaning changes. The
word restart means to start anew or to start again).
4. dis- charge= discharge ( The word charge means to demand (an amount) as a price from
someone for a service rendered or goods supplied but when we add the prefix dis- to the word
charge, the meaning changes. Discharge means to release from confinement, custody, or care;
to relieve of a charge, load or burden).
5. im+possible= impossible ( The word possible means able to be done; within the power or
capacity of someone or something but when we add a prefix im- at the beginning of the word
possible, this means not possible or not able to occur, exist or to be done).

B. Explain how Lexical Semantics work.

Lexical semantics is the branch of linguistics which is concerned with the systematic study of
word meanings.It studies how a word represents the meaning it conveys including its structure,
how they act in grammar and compositionality, and the relationships between the distinct
senses and uses of a word. The units of analysis in lexical semantics are lexical units which
include not only words but also sub-words—it studies the word's existence as a whole.In
 addition, Lexical semantics deconstruct words and phrases within a line of text to understand
the meaning in terms of context. This can be include a study of individual nouns, verbs,
adjectives, prefixes, root words, suffixes, or longer phrases or idioms. They say that probably the
two most fundamental questions addressed by lexical semanticists are how to describe the
meanings of words, and how to account for the variability of meaning from context to context.
These two are necessarily connected, since an adequate description of meaning must be able to
support our account of variation and our ability to interpret it. The study of contextual variation
leads in two directions: to the processes of selection from a range of permanently available
possibilities and on the other hand, to the creation of new meanings from old, by such means as
metaphor and metonymy, in response to contextual pressure. An understanding of synchronic
variation of meaning is essential to an understanding of diachronic change or changes over time.
Another important area of inquiry is how the vocabularies of languages are structured by means
of sense relations or the systematic relations between meanings, such as antonymy (soft:hard,
fast:slow), hyponymy (animal:cat, fruit: mango), and incompatibility (dog:cat, mango:banana).
C.Compare and Contrast Denotation and Connotation. Cite some examples.
 Denotation is the strict dictionary meaning of a word and the objective meaning of a word.
Denotation of a word is its literal definition—its dictionary definition—and contains no emotion.
Denotation is used when an author wants the reader to understand a word, phrase, or sentence
in its literal form, without other implied, associated, or suggested meanings. This is in contrast
to connotation, which is the subjective or associated meaning of a word. Connotation on the
other hand refers to the feelings or emotions associated with the word. It goes beyond the
actual meaning and paints a picture or invokes a feeling primarily to the readers. In addition,
Connotation is also a cultural, figurative ,and imaginative meaning of a word. Both connotation
and denotation can be either positive or negative.Some of the examples of connotation and
denotation are as follows:
1. home -
Denotative meaning: relating to a place where one livesand provides warmth; a shelter which a
family lives. (Oxford Languages Dictionary)
Connotative meaning: comfort and affection
2. red -
Denotative meaning: Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light,
next to orange and opposite violet. (Oxford Languages Dictionary)
Connotative meaning: energy, danger, or blood
3. Heart-
Denotative meaning: a hollow muscular organ of the body that expands and contracts to move
blood through the arteries and veins. 2 : something shaped like a heart a Valentine's heart. 3 : a
part near the center or deep into the interior They reached the heart of the desert. (Meriam
Webster)
Connotative meaning: love or affection, compassion, kindness, and understanding.
4. dove-
Denotative: a stocky seed- or fruit-eating bird with a small head, short legs, and a cooing voice.
Doves are generally smaller and more delicate than pigeons, but many kinds have been given
both names.(Oxford Languages Dictionary)
Connotative meaning: purity, cleanliness, emerging from danger.
5. Water-
Denotative meaning: a colorless, transparent, odorless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers,
and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms. ( Oxford Languages Dictionary)
Connotative meaning: life, birth, fertility, and refreshments.