Question no 8:

In the context of morphology, explain the significance of lexemes in linguistic analysis. How do lexemes
differ from morphemes, and how can a deeper understanding of lexemes aid in the study of word
formation and lexical variation within a language?

Answer:
In morphology, lexemes are fundamental units of analysis that carry meaning and contribute to the
understanding of word formation and lexical variation within a language. Lexemes are abstract units
representing the core meaning of a word, and they serve as the basis for studying morphological and
lexical structures.

Significance of Lexemes:
1. Abstract Representation: Lexemes represent the core or base form of a word, abstracting away
inflections, variations, or specific grammatical details. For example, the lexeme "run"
encompasses various forms like "running" or "ran."

2. Linguistic Analysis: Lexemes are crucial for linguistic analysis, providing a more comprehensive
and systematic approach to understanding word relationships and derivations. They help
linguists examine the underlying meanings and structures that words share.

3. Word Formation: Lexemes play a key role in word formation processes. Affixes, such as prefixes
and suffixes, attach to lexemes to create new words or modify existing ones. For instance, the
lexeme "friend" can give rise to words like "friendly" or "unfriend."

4. Lexical Variation: Lexemes help identify and study variations within a language's lexicon. By
recognizing the common core meaning shared by different forms of a word, researchers can
analyze how languages evolve and adapt through time.

Differences Between Lexemes and Morphemes:

Lexeme:
An abstract unit representing the core meaning of a word, irrespective of inflections or variations. It is
the base form that captures the word's inherent meaning.

Example: "Run" as a lexeme encompasses "running," "ran," etc.

Morpheme:
The smallest unit of meaning or grammatical function. Morphemes can be free (stand-alone, like
"book") or bound (attached to a free morpheme, like the "-s" in "books").
Example: In "unhappiness," "un-" and "-ness" are morphemes.

Understanding Lexemes for Word Formation and Lexical Variation:

Word Formation:
Recognizing lexemes aids in understanding how new words are created. By attaching affixes to a lexeme,
speakers can generate a range of related words with distinct meanings.

Example: Lexeme "teach" can lead to words like "teacher," "teaching," and "unteachable."

Lexical Variation:
Lexemes help researchers analyze how words change over time and across different dialects or registers.
Studying the lexemic roots allows for a more nuanced understanding of lexical variation within a
language.

Example: Lexeme "travel" may undergo variations like "travels," "traveling" (American English), or
"travelling" (British English).

In summary, lexemes are crucial for understanding word formation, morphology, and lexical variation
within a language. They serve as the central units that capture the essential meaning of words,
facilitating a more in-depth analysis of the structure and evolution of a language's lexicon.