24 Language focus B Word formation: prefixes When you are reading, you will come across unfamiliar words tis often possible to guess the meunings ofthese words fyou understand the way words in English are generally formed. prefix [>[ stem |] sulfixes ‘An English word can be divided into three pars: a prefix a stem, and a sul ‘Pre-means ‘before’. A prelix, therefore, is what comes before the stem. Consider, as an example, the prefix de- (meaning ‘reduce’ or reverse’) ina word tke demagnetiz (meaning to deprive of magnetism’). A sullixis what is attached tothe end ofthe stem. Consider, as an example, the sulix-er (meaning ‘someone who’) in programmer (‘a person who programs’) Suitixes change the word from one part of speech to another. For example. -y added tothe adjective quick gives the adverb quickly, Prefixes, on the other hhand, usually change the meaning ofthe word, For example, w-changesa word to the negative. Urmagnetizable means ‘not cupable of being magnetized Let us now consider some prelixes, their usual mean the meanings of English words. s, and how they change Prefixes ed Negative Sue Location and positive un semi: er pre: mono: ron mini super ante- bi in micro trans- fore- hes dis. ex post- oct re extra- rmulti- peri-Exercise 1 Study these tables. Try to find additional examples. using your detionary if neces. Negative and pstive prefs: Prelit Meaning eamples Negative une unmagnetzed ie incomplte im | not impossible ie egal ie Iregular, relevant notconnected with non-programmable, tisdiret ita ‘malfanetion opposite fell, alsagree oppose scion disconnect against antglare reduce, revere demagnetize, decode tool ‘underestimate Postive re dog reorganize Over- _toomuch vero Prefs of se: Prefix Meaning samples sem halt jarly semiconductor equ equal equidistant mak small ‘milcompoter tere veeysmall microcomputer mmacro- verge pret ETORCONOMICS mega: eee megabyte Prefixes oflocaton: Prete Meaning ‘amples inter- bencen, among interface interactive super. over supersonic trans across transmit, transfor o out exclude extrinsic xr: beyond extraordinary sub. under subchema ina below infeed pert around peripheral4 Prefixes of ime and orde Preis Meaning Examples ante- ee antecedent pre prelix prime- first primary, peimitive Post alter Postdated retro- backward retroactive Prat Meaning Frames seme hat semicirle mono one romochromatic bie two binary ne three triangle sq four sqadraple pent fhe pentagon hex: sx hevadecil septiem seven September oct eight ctl ae ten decimal mul many multiplexor 6 Other reixes: Prete Meaning xaumples [ before.in advance program re {forward progress au. sel atomatie bn } together, win Coordinate Exereise2 26 Read the following sentences and circle the proixes. For each word that has a prefix, try to decide what the prefix means, Refer back tothe table if you need help, 1. Floppy disks are inexpensive and reuseable, 2 > aprinter malfunctions, you should check the interface cable. 3. The:multipleyor was not working because someone had disconnected it by tise. 4 Improper installation of the antiglare shicld will make It impossible to roud ‘whats on the screen. 5 After you transfer text using the ‘cut and paste’ feature, you may have to reformat the text you have inserted 6 Youcan maximize your chances of finding ja if you are bilingual or even tilingBrorcise3 Peripheral devices can be either input devices (such as keyboards) or output devices (such as printers), ‘Your pay rise is retroactive tothe beginning of June and you will receive a bi- ‘annual bonus. "The octal and hexadecimal systems are number systems used as a form of| shorthand in reading groups of four binary digits. As the resalls are irregular, the program will have tobe rewritten. lin the gaps with the correct prefix from the following list. fauio de dec inter yal mega micro. min mono multi semi sub chrome sereen Most people prefer a colour screen to a __script isa character or symbol written below and to the right of a ‘number or letter, often used in science A.____byte equall approximately one milion bytes. Once you finish your program, you will have totestitand___bugit 16 remove all the mistakes. ‘The introduction of conductor technology revolutionized the computer industry. fa computer system has two or more central processors which are under ‘common control, it is called a__processor system. ‘The imal systems a number system with a base of 10. When the user and the computer are in active communication on a graphics system, we refer to this as _active graphics.Exercise? 36 Language focus C Word formation: suffixes We have already seen how prefles can change the meaning ofa word. Let us now consider some suffixes, thelr usual meanings, and how they change the ‘meanings of English words. Suffixes I Verbs Adjectives Adverts ance ine -able ly sence vale -ible or ty cles. “er a se ist sity -lcal ness ish Study these tables and try to make additional examples. Use your dieionary if necessary, ‘Noun-forming sulixes: Sulix Meaning Beamples -ance state performance “ence quality of independence vero { SPetson who programmer, operator " ‘thing which ‘compiler, accurmalator cist -yst person who analyst typist ian pertaining to electrician tion, ation the act of compilation ness condition of| readiness sion action/state conversion “ing activity multiplexing ment state, action ‘measurement ity state, quality electricity “ism condition/state magnetism dom domain/condition freedom “ship condition/state relationship, partnershipExercise? Verb-forming sulixes: Soe Meaning — mse computerie = ftom ect, tomate cacute 4 mt i hard wen Adve rings Someone = y Inthe rane of ecto logy. oprah, helpfully dete ing sie Site Meine ‘sample compton, opel having tbeguaiy Sean image automate deta copeleatbeag _ gamrale elt dangerous charectetedty ed wet cme ite allt hasing the gusty compe “ inactive Note: Words ending in ing are formed trom verbs. The -ng form may be used ‘asa noun, part ofa noun phrase, or part ofa verb. Examples 1 Programming is an imeresting job (nown) 2 Programming in Cis interesting. (part of noun phrase) 3 Hes working asa programmer. (part of verb) Reud the following sentences and circle the suftixes. Underline the tem it can bbe used on its own, The Brst one has been done for you. A programmer designs, writes, and tests programs for performing various tasks on a computes, ‘A systems analyst studies organizational systems and decides what action needs tobe taken to maximize efficiency. 7a8 Laser printers are preferable to other types of printing devices because of their speed and quietness. ‘The microcomputer we have purchased does not have a FORTRAN compile. It {s programmable in BASIC only. We have found that operators wlio have the freedom to take short breaks during the day greatly improve thelr performance. "The number of shipments will increase over the coming months. We decided to compteriz the entire plant to give each division more independence. Spooling is a way of toring data temporarily on disk or tape until it can be processed by another part of the system ing your office into a paperless environment may be expensive al the aning bat can produce big savings inthe long run, Soltware developers are producing increasingly sophisticated applications for a ‘growing global market. Now. for cach word that has a sul. i fog. noun, verb, etc.) cate what part of speech the word is