Unit 4: Word Formation
4.2 Morphology
Even if we accept the conventional definition of a word, it is obvious that many words can be broken down into still smaller units. These units are known as MORPHEMES and the study of them is referred to as MORPHOLOGY. A morpheme is thus the smallest unit in what is called the RANK SCALE. This term refers to the hierarchy of grammatical units, each of which forms part of the level above it.
THE RANK SCALE: MORPHEME WORD PHRASE CLAUSE SENTENCE
Morphemes carry meaning as constituents of words. In morphological analysis they are separated by hyphens. Thus the words high, speed and drive consist of single morphemes, but high-way, speed-way, high-er and driv-er each consists of two morphemes.
