Which term describes the study of word formation and structure?

Which term describes the study of word formation and structure?

• A. Morpheme
• B. Phonology
• C. Morphology
• D. Syntax

Answer: (C)

Word formation and structure are studied in morphology, the branch of linguistics that examines how words are built from smaller meaningful pieces and how those pieces come together to form different word forms. For example, the word unhappiness can be analyzed as three morphemes: un- (a prefix), happy (the root), and -ness (a suffix). This shows how affixes attach to roots and how meaning changes with different forms. Morphology covers processes like derivation, inflection, and compounding, which together explain how new words are created and how their forms relate to meaning. Morpheme refers to the smallest meaningful unit itself, phonology to the sound system of a language, and syntax to how words are arranged in sentences. Because the question asks for the study of how words are formed and structured, morphology is the best fit.

Word formation and structure are studied in morphology, the branch of linguistics that examines how words are built from smaller meaningful pieces and how those pieces come together to form different word forms. For example, the word unhappiness can be analyzed as three morphemes: un- (a prefix), happy (the root), and -ness (a suffix). This shows how affixes attach to roots and how meaning changes with different forms. Morphology covers processes like derivation, inflection, and compounding, which together explain how new words are created and how their forms relate to meaning. Morpheme refers to the smallest meaningful unit itself, phonology to the sound system of a language, and syntax to how words are arranged in sentences. Because the question asks for the study of how words are formed and structured, morphology is the best fit.