What information should morphological rules of word formation capture about derived words?
Give morphological rules for the derivational suffix -ion in expression, -ee in devotee and -able in unthinkable. For each of these give examples of other words formed with these suffixes. In this answer you should demonstrate that you understand what morphological rules are and how they operate. Then you should clearly show that you know what the rule in question is that is being applied in each of the examples. You should demonstrate that the rule works (is productive) by giving other applications of the rule that give a similar result. Sample Answer Morphological rules should examine words derived by the rule for: • change in pronunciation • change in form • change in meaning • change in part of speech Examples: • expression: -ion a bound nominalizing suffix was added to the verb express Changes which occur: • ‘s’ sound changes to ‘sh’ sound • express(verb) is changed to a noun Other examples: digress–>digression;extend –> extension • devotee: -ee a bound nominalizing suffix meani
