M. Henry, 2021

Morphemes:Building Blocks Vocabulary Instruction

New Jersey Branch International Dyslexia AssociationOctober 1, 2021

Marcia K. Henry, PhD

“Nothing can express an idea as effectively as

a judicious use of words.”

Dhroov Bharatia, 12, one of 11 finalists in the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee, as he describes his passion for language.

M. Henry, 2021

M. Henry, 2021

Scarborough’s Reading Rope

(https://dyslexiaida.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/readingrope-2010.jpg)

Scarborough, H.S.(2001). Connecting early language and literacy to later reading

(dis)abilities: Evidence, theory, and practice. In S. Neuman & D. Dickinson (Eds.)

Handbook for research in early literacy (pp. 97-110. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

What Do Students Need to Learn?

• Available clues such as context clues & structural clues

• Dictionary definitions & thesaurus entries

• Understanding semantic relationships such

as antonyms & synonyms

• Multiple meanings of many words

• Appreciation of figurative language such as

metaphors, idioms, similes, cliches, &

analogies.

Orthographic Reference Points

Etymology

Phonology MorphologyConcept by Pete Bowers: “The Analogy of Triangulation”; Dennis Wimer: “The Ologies of Language”

M. Henry, 2021

English: A Polyglot

M. Henry, 2021

“The truth is that if borrowing foreign words could

destroy a language, English would be dead (borrowed

from Old Norse), deceased (from French), defunct (from

Latin) and kaput (from German). When it comes to

borrowing, English excels (from Latin), surpasses (from

French) and eclipses (from Greek) any other tongue, past

or present.”

Claiborne, R. (1983). Our marvelous native tongue: The

life and times of the English language. New York: Times

Books (p. 4)

Layers of Language

M. Henry, 2021

GREEK

ROMANCE from LATIN

ANGLO-SAXON

Specialized words,

used mostly in science,

though some, like

photograph, are common

Technical, sophisticated words used

primarily in more formal settings such

as literature and textbooks

Common, short, everyday, down-to-earth words used frequently

in ordinary situations and found in school primers

M. Henry, 1987; After Calfee & Associates, Stanford University

M. Henry, 2021

Anglo-

Saxon

Latin

Greek

Letter-SoundCorrespondences

SyllablePatterns

MorphemePatterns

Anglo-Saxon

Latin

Greek

Framework for Decoding/SpellingCurriculum and Instruction

M. Henry, 1987, 2003

What is a Morpheme?

M. Henry, 2021

The smallest meaningful linguistic unit in a word.

Bases, roots, prefixes and suffixes are all morphemes.

M. Henry, 2021

Morphemes Can be Free or Bound

A free morpheme is a base or root that canstand alone as a word, such as spell, script,and graph.

A bound morpheme is a base or root or affixthat cannot stand alone, such as re-, struct and-ure in restructure.

CompoundWords

PhonemicAwareness

ABC’s

Sounds

Anglo-Saxon

Consonants-Vowels

Prefixes/Suffixes

SyllablePatterns

Latin Roots& Review

Greek Roots

Gr. K 1 2 3 4 5 --- HS

The Decoding/Spelling Continuum

M. Henry, 2021

M. Henry, 2021

Remember that the primary function of English spelling

is to represent meaning.

Investigate these questions when stuck on a spelling:

1. What does the word mean?

2. How is it built?

3. What other related words can you think of?

4. What are the sounds that matter?

From: www.wordworkskingston.com

The Spelling/Meaning Connection

Anglo-Saxon Morphemes

Compound 2 base words:

railroad baseball flashlight lamppost

bookmark fireplace cowboy bluebird

starfish shoebox skyline homework

backpack butterfly birdhouse schoolroom

Affix to base word:

help helper unhelpful helpfully

play playing replay replayed

read reading reread misread

spell respell misspell misspelledM. Henry, 2021

Count the morphemes in these words:

dogs dog + s (2)

railroad rail + road (2)

respelled re + spell + ed (3)

misunderstanding mis + under + stand + ing (4)

M. Henry, 2021

Common Prefixes

• in- (in or not) inborn, inland, inbred, into

• un- (not) unlike, untimed, undo, untie

• mis- (bad, wrong) misgive, misfire, misname

• dis- (not) disarm, disgrace, dislike, distrust

• fore- (before) forearm, foreword, forepaw

• re- (back, again) recall, return, restain

• de- (down, away from) decode, defog, delight

• pre- (before) preheat, preview, pretest

• a- (on, in; to) away, alone, along, aloudM. Henry, 2021

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF. 2.3d; 3.3a

M. Henry, 2021

The Schwa

(The neutral vowel in unaccented syllables in English words)

Anglo-Saxon: (Suffixes will be schwaed, prefixes may be)

a + sleep əsleep old + en oldən

green + est greenəst care + less careləss

church + es churchəs good + ness goodnəss

Common Anglo-Saxon Suffixes

• -ing, -er, -edheating heater heated

• -s, -escats churches

• -ly, -less, -ness, -fulgladly hopeless badnesspainful

• - en, -estolden widen oldest biggest

• -ysilky muddy crabby funny

M. Henry, 2021CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.1.3f; 2.3d; 3.3a

Inflectional vs Derivational Morphemes

Inflectional morpheme – A bound morpheme that combines

with base words to indicate tense, number, mood, person, or

gender (peaches, walking, walked, walks, big, bigger)

Derivational morpheme – A bound morpheme added to bases

or roots to form new words, that may or may not change

the grammatical category of a word (turn/return, dental/dentist/

hope/hopeful/hopeless)

M. Henry, 2021

Suffix Addition Rules

M. Henry, 2021

Once suffixes are taught, students need to learn:

• When to drop final e when adding a suffix

• When to double the final consonant when adding a suffix

• When to change final y to i when adding a suffix

M. Henry, 2021Courtesy of Fiona Sheridan and Linda Brubaker, Beijing International School.

www.wordworkskingston.com

M. Henry, 2021

Matrix showing the addition ofPrefixes and suffixes to the Anglo-Saxon base friend. Courtesy of

Web on “word”

word

words

worded

wording

wordless

Wordlessly

wordlessness

wordage

reword

reworded

rewording

wordsmith

wordplay

wordbook

wordwork

foreword

byword

catchword

password

watchword

wordy

wordily

wordiness

forearm

forehead

forecast

foresee

forefathers

foreshadow

foresight

foretell

forethought

M. Henry, 2003, 2010; Adapted from M.Ramsden www.realspelling.frM. Henry, 2021

Latin & Greek Morphemes Act Differently

You’ll recall that Anglo-Saxon bases can be compounded or affixed as a means of word expansion.

Latin roots are generally affixed. Ex. extracted, instructor, ambidextrous, reflective

Greek roots are generally combined/compounded.These roots are often called combining forms.Ex. photograph, phonology, kilometer, hydrosphere

M. Henry, 2021

The Schwa

(The neutral vowel in unaccented syllables in English words)

Latin:

dis + rupt + ed disruptəd

de+ rect + ion dərectiən

at + tract + ive əttractəve

M. Henry, 2021

Prefixes and Their Meaning

a- (on or in; to; or without or not)

ab- (from or away)

ad- (to, toward, in, or near)

Variants: ac-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-, ar-, as-, at-

ambi- (both)

ante- (before)

anti- (against)

be- (completely, thoroughly, used as an intensive)

bene- (well or good)

circum- (around or about)

con- (together, with, joint, or jointly)

Variants: co-, col, com-, cor-)

contra- (against, opposite, contrasting)

counter- (contrary, opposite)M. Henry, 2021

More Prefixes and Their Meaning

de- (down or away from)

dis- (not, absence of, or apart Variant: dif-

dys- (bad or difficult)

ex- (out) Variant: e-

fore- (before)

in- (in, on, or toward) Variants: il-, im-, ir-

in- (not) Variants: il-, im-, ir-

inter- (between)

intra- (within)

intro- (in or inward)

mal- (bad or badly; abnormal)

mid- (middle)

mis- (bad or badly; wrong or wrongly)

multi- (many or much)M. Henry, 2021

M. Henry, 2021

More Prefixes and Their Meaning

non- (not or negative)ob- (down against, or facing; toper- (through or completely; also used as an intensivepost- (after, behind, or following)pre- (before or earlier)pro- (forward, earlier, or prior to)re- (back or again; also used as an intensive)se- (apart or aside, without)sub- (under, beneath, or below; secondary)syn- (together or with; from Greek)trans- (across or beyond)un- (to undo or reverse)un- (not or opposite)

Chameleon Prefixes(Assimilated Prefixes)

in (in, not) invite, insist, increase, invest

il + l illegal, illegible, illustrate, illiterate

ir + r irregular, irritate, irrigate, irrode

im + m immune, immortal, immoral

+ b imbibe, imbalance, imbecile

+ p impart, import, impress, improveM. Henry, 2021

Chameleon Prefixes(Assimilated Prefixes)

con (together, with) connect, convene, convince

col + l collect, collide, collusion, collate

cor + r correct, corrupt, corrode, correspond

com + m commit, commute, commune, comment

+ b combine, combust, combat, combatant

+ p compare, compute, compact, complaintM. Henry, 2021

Chameleon Prefixes(Assimilated Prefixes)

sub (under, from below) subway, submarine

suc + c success, succeed, succulent

suf + f suffer, suffuse, sufficient

sug + g suggest, suggestive

sup + p support, suppose, suppress

ad (to, toward) address, adjust, admit

ac account, access af afford, affection

ag aggressive, aggrevate al allow, alleviate

ap appear, appoint ar arrest, arrive

as assert, assort, assist at attend, attract, attest

M. Henry, 2021

M. Henry, 2021

The following common suffixes are arranged in a suggested order of presentation based on the frequency of use of the suffixes & their adjacent roots.

1 2 3 4

er ion (tion, sion) ar ism

ed most ible, ibility tude

ing ous, ious (cious, tious) ize ory

s, es ish ery eer

en or ary ine

est ess ate ite

less ure (ture) ward cide

ness dom age ette

ful ent, ence al (cial, tial) cy

ly an ic ile

fold ant, ance ity ade

ship ist ee ium

hood ive fy, ify ian

able, ability most ty, ity ese

fore some ize

y ment ling

Suffixes

Suffixes and Their Meaning

-able/-ability (Adj., able, can do) Variant: -ible/-iblity

-ade (N., result of an action)

-age (N., collection, mass)

-al/-ial (Adj., relating to or characterized by) [cial, tial]

-an (Adj. or N., relating to) Variant: -ian

-ant/-ance (Adj. or N. action or state)

-ar (Adj.)

-ard (N., one habitually in a specified condition)

-ary (Adj. or N., relating to, place where)

-ate (Adj. or Vb., cause or make)

-cide (N., kill)

M. Henry, 2021

More Suffixes and Their Meaning

-cy (N., state, condition, or quality) Variants: -acy

-dom (N., quality, realm, office, or state)

-ed (Vb. Past participle)

-ee (N., one who receives the action)

-eer (N., one associated with)

-en (Vb. or N., made of or to make)

-ent/ence (N., action, state, or quality)

-er (Adj. [comparative degree] or N., one who, that which)

-ery (N., relating to, quality, or place where)

-ese (Adj. or N., related to)

-ess (N. [feminine])

-est (Adj. [superlative degree]

-ette (N., small or diminutiveM. Henry, 2021

More Suffixes and Their Meaning

-fold (N., related to a specified number or quantity)

-ful (Adj., full of or full)

-fy/ify (Vb., make)

-hood (N., condition, state, or quantity)

-ian (N., one having a certain skill or art - [cian]

-ic (Adj., of, pertaining to, or characterized by)

-ile (Adj. or N., relating to, suited for, or capable of)

-ine (Adj. or N., nature of)

-ing (Adj. or N., action, process, or art)

-ion (N., act of, state of, or result of – [tion, sion]

-ish (Adj., origin, nature, or resembling)

-ism (N., doctrine, system, manner, condition, act, characteristic)

-ist (N., one who)

M. Henry, 2021

-ite (N., nature of, quality of, or mineral product)

-ium (N., chemical element or group)

-ive (Adj., causing or making)

-ize (Vb., make)

-less (Adj., without)

-ling (N., very small, diminutive)

-ly (Adv., like or manner of)

-ment (N., act of, state of, or result of an action)

-most (Adj., most or nearest to)

-ness (N., state of)

-or (N., one who, that which)

-ory (Adj. or N., relatint to, quality, or place where)

More Suffixes and Their Meaning

M. Henry, 2021

More Suffixes and Their Meaning

-ous (Adj., full of or having) [-cious, -ious, -tious]

-s (N. pl.) Variant: -es

-ship (N., office, stat e, dignity, skill, quality or profession

-some (Adj., characterized by a specified quality, condition, action)

-ster (N., one who is associated with, participates in, makes)

-tude (N., condition, state, or quality of)

-ty/ity (N., state or quality of)

-ure (N., state of, process, function, or office) [-ture]

-ward (Adj., expressing direction)

-y (Adj., inclined to)

For word lists fitting each prefix, see Unlocking Literacy, Appendix E

M. Henry, 2021

When do we use these suffixes?:-er, -or, -ar:

Use –er with Anglo-Saxon bases for nouns & adjectives

skater waiter loser winner farmer

finer bigger older redder smaller

Use –or with Latin roots for nouns

conductor inspector inventor instructor

Use –ar with Latin roots for adjectives

popular singular stellar spectacular

(Some common nouns end in ar (beggar, molar, hangar

sugar, liar, pillar, dollar, cigar. Note the ar is not

always a suffix.)

M. Henry, 2021

When do we use these suffixes?:-ous, –ess:

Use –ous for adjectives

famous dangerous nervous jealous

joyous adventurous

rigorous tremendous glorious

amorous devious pompous

Use –ess for feminine nouns

actress waitress hostess princess

lioness tigress sculptress governess

duchess

baroness empress heiress M. Henry, 2021

When do we use these suffixes?:

-est, -ist:

Use –est for superlative degree of adjectives

highest lowest biggest smallest

oldest fastest hottest happiest

Use –ist for noun people

dentist cyclist jurist scientist

tourist violinist pianist cartoonist

M. Henry, 2021

The Schwa(The neutral vowel in unaccented syllables in English words)

Latin:

dis + rupt’ + əd disrupted

də + rect’ + ən direction

ət + tract’ + əve attractive

M. Henry, 2021

Why Do We Need to Learn

Latin & Greek Morphemes?

Consider Our Literature and

Content Area Textbooks

M. Henry, 2021

Call of the Wild by Jack London (pp. 52 & 53)

malingerer suffering jarring

terribly tiredness excessive

recovery prolonged drainage

successively relatively arrived

recuperation apparently vigorously

fiercely encouraged confidently

deserved interval proportions

official worthless drooping

addressed reserve lightish-coloredM. Henry, 2021

Social Studies Text, Grades 4-6

• discovery, explorer, navigation, exploration, celebration, exchange, governor, pilgrimage, colonist, constitution, declaration, independence, indentured, opression, proclamation, representation, revolution, taxation, secession, abolitionist, assassination, autonomy, reconstruction, expansion, anthropology, hemisphere, interdependence, immigration, presidential, proletariat, democracy, emigration, hierarchy, dictatorship, centennial, legislative, judicial, bicentennial, argumentative

Henry, 2010M. Henry, 2021

M. Henry, 2021

Latin Influence

So great, in fact, was the penetration of

Latin affixing during the Renaissance that it

quite undid the Anglo-Saxon habit of

compounding as the leading means of word

formation in English.

From: A Structural History of English (Nist, 1966, p. 11)

M. Henry, 2021

Latin Word Roots: Order of Presentation

form port rupt tract

scribe/script spec/spect stru/struct dic/dict

flect/flex mit/miss fer cred

duc/duce/duct pel/puls vert/vers pend/pens

fac/fact/fect/fic jac/jec/ject tend/tens/tent cur/curs

ped/pod vis/vid aud leg

viv/vivi/vit/vita greg capit/capt spir/spire

cap/cep/cept/cip grad/gress/gred voc/voke leg/lect

lit/liter/litera cede/ceed/cess ten/tain/tin

feder/fid/fide/feal sta/stit/sist/stet cad/cas/cid pon/pose

cern/cert mob/mot/mov gen/genus cise/cide

M. Henry, 2021

Latin Roots & Their Meaningform – to shape port – to carry

rupt – to break or burst tract – to draw or pull

scrib, script – to write* spec, spect, spic – to see, watch*

stru, struct – to build flect, flex - to bend or curve

dic, dict – to say, tell fer – to bear or yield*

mit, miss – to send* duc, duce, duct – to lead*

cred – to believe vers, vert – to turn

pel, puls – to drive or push fac, fact, fect, fic – to make or do*

pend, pens – to hang or weigh tend, tens, tent – to stretch or strain*

jac, jec, ject – to throw or lie ped – foot

cur, curs – to run or go aud – to hear or listen

vid, vis – to see leg - law

Brown, 1947, suggested that 12 Latin roots by asterisks, along with the Greek

forms graph and ology, provide clues to the meanings of more than 100,000 words.

M. Henry, 2021

More Latin Roots and Their Meaningvit, vita, viv, vivi – to live capit, capt – head or chief

greg – group, crowd, flock cap, ceit, ceive, cep, cept, cip –

to take, catch, seize, hold*

spir, spire – to breathe voc, vok, voke – to call

grad, gred, gress – step, degree lit, liter, litera – letters

lect, leg, lig – to choose, pick,

read or speak ten, tain, tin, tinu – to hold*

sist, sta, stat, stit – to stand cede, ceed, cess – to go, yield

surrender

pon, pose, pound – to put, feder, fid, fide, feal – trust, faith

place, or set* mob, mot, mov – to move

cad, cas, cid – to fall, befall cide – to kill

cern – to separate, cert – plic, ply – to fold*

to decide cise – to cut

cogn – to know

For less common roots, see Unlocking Literacy, p. 147

For lists of words fitting each root, see Unlocking Literacy, Appendix FM. Henry, 2021

Ask students to:

Discuss word pairs (e.g., compare the behavior of an extrovert and an

introvert; how do intrastate and interstate highways differ?

Match prefixes with their meanings.

Match suffixes with their parts of speech.

Match Latin or Greek bases with their meaning or meaning with the Latin

and Greek bases.

Find the morphemes in a list of words; are they bound or free

morphemes?

Follow-up and Reinforcement

M. Henry, 2021

M. Henry, 2021

Look for Old-English, Latin or Greek based words in a content area text book.

Build a web on a target base.

Make a word sum for a target word.

Develop a matrix for an Old English, Latin or Greek base.

Identify the language of origin in a word.

Generate as many words as possible for a target base. Add words by checking Word Searcher.

Sort a list of words into those that share a twin base. (Ex. stru/struct; vert/vers)

Find the etymology of an unknown word by going to Etymonline.com

Follow-up and Reinforcement

Activities Related to Latin Morphemes• Circle the Latin word roots in the following words:

nondescript transference convertibleconference attractive adversary

• Matching: Match the Latin root with the letter of the correct meaning:

_____ rupt A. to say or tell_____ spect B. to breathe_____ dict C. to break or burst_____ flect D. to pull_____ spire E. to bend_____ tract F. to see

• Write the Latin root that means:to pull _____________ to build ___________to write _____________ to bend ___________to see _____________ to break ___________to hear _____________ to run __________

©M. HenryM. Henry, 2021

Activities for Latin Morphemes - 2• Fill in the blanks with the best word from the following choices:

interrupted information formality report

convertible spectators supported formula

1. My _________ card had mostly A’s.

2. My sister __________ our telephone chatter.

3. The building was ____________ by heavy beams.

4. Give me new _____________ on the research.

5. I have a new yellow _______________.

• Circle a word with a Latin root to replace the underlined word(s).My teacher helped the principal at lunchtime.

informer instructor reporterTurn in your research paper tomorrow.

manuscript prescription protractor• Discussion on word pairs: Compare the behavior of an extrovert and an introvert. How do intrastate and interstate highways differ?

© M. HenryM. Henry, 2021

struct

to build

con

in

construct

constructs

constructing

constructed

constructions

constructive

constructively

instruct

instructs

instructed

instructing

instruction

instructional

instructor

instructive

instructively

de

destructive

destructively

destruction

destructible

destructibility

destruct

obobstruct

obstructs

obstructing

obstructed

obstruction

obstructive

structure

structures

structured

structuring

structural

restructure

restructured

substructure

superstructure

infrastructure

reconstructionists

Web on “struct”

M. Henry, 2021

Courtesy Pete Bowers: www.wordworkskingston.com

Thanks also to Michel Rameau: www.realspelling.frM. Henry, 2021

rupt“to break or burst”

rupturerupturedrupturesrupturing

corruptcorruptscorruptedcorruptlycorruptingcorruptiblecorruptivecorruptivenesscorruptivelycorruptivitycorruption

incorruptibleincorruptibility

bankruptbankruptcybankruptcies

interruptinterruptsinterruptinginterruptedinterruptioninterruptions

uninterrupteduninterruptedly

erupteruptseruptederuptingeruptioneruptions

disruptdisruptsdisruptingdisrupteddisruptiondisruptivedisruptivelydisruptiveness

abruptabruptlyabruptness

M. Henry, 2021

Find the Morphemes in These Words

Word Prefix(es) Root Suffix(es)

reflection _______ _______ _______

disrupted _______ _______ _______

literature _______ _______ _______

collective _______ _______ _______

subtracting _______ _______ _______

prescriptions _______ _______ _______

reconstructionist _______ _______ _______

pendant _______ _______ _______

submission _______ _______ _______

inspector _______ _______ _______M. Hen ry, 2021

Importance of Latin Roots for Spanish Speakers; Cognates

English Spanish

transportation transportacióndepartment departamento

novelist novelistaidealism idealismoexperience experienciavariety variedadInflexibility inflexibilidad

M. Henry, 2021

Latin & Greek Morphemes Act Differently

You’ll recall that Anglo-Saxon base words are

compounded or affixed as a means of word

expansion.

Latin roots are usually affixed.

Ex. extracted, instructor, ambidextrous, reflective

Greek roots are usually combined/compounded.

These roots are often called combining forms.

Ex. photograph, phonology, kilometer, hydrosphere

M. Henry, 2021

Greek Influence

Suppose you could examine a green part of a plant

under the microscope. What would you see?

Here are some cells from the green part of a plant.

The cells have small green bodies shaped like

footballs. They give the plant its green color. They

are called chloroplasts.

Chloroplasts are very important to a plant. As you

know, plants make their own food. This food-

making process is called photosynthesis. It is in

these chloroplasts that photosynthesis takes place.

M. Henry, 2021

Greek Combining FormsOrder of Presentation

phon/phono photo graph/gram auto

tele ology micro meter

therm bio scope hydro

biblio crat/cracy geo metro

polis dem derm cycl

hypo hyper chron chrom

phys psych techni lex

path peri hemi/semi/demi

poly mon/mono gon sphere

cogn meta mega arch

mech kine/cine phil soph

the/theo andr/anthr phobia mania

ast(astro) archae/arche

Henry, M.K., & Redding, N.C. (2002). Patterns for success in reading and spelling. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.Henry, M.K. (2003). Unlocking literacy: Effective decoding & spelling instruction. Baltimore: Brookes’ Pub.

M. Henry, 2021

Words from Math Texts, Gr. 4-6

• addend, addition, calculation, calculator, decimal, denominator, dividend, division, multiplication, numerator, reciprocal, percentage, subtraction, geometry, nonagonal, protractor, hemisphere, circumference, congruent, diagonal, diameter, dimension, heptagon, hexagon, horizontal, intersection, isosceles, octagon, octagonal, opposite, parallelogram, pentagonal, pentomino, perimeter, polygon, rectangular, symmetry, trapezoid, millimeter, centimeter, triangle, decimeter, kilometer, milliliter, kilogram

Henry, 2003M. Henry, 2021

Science Content Words, Gr. 4-6

• brontosaurus, Cenozoic, dinosaurs, extinction, stegosaurus, trilobite, astronomy, atmosphere, environment, igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary, telescope, chlorophyll, amphibious, deciduous, microorganism, photosynthesis, zoology, spontaneous, aluminum, thermometer, ultraviolet, transparent, galvanometer, electromagnet, microwave, technology, physiology

M. Henry, 2021

Greek Combining Forms (Roots)and Their Meaning

phon, phono – sound photo – light

gram, graph – written or drawn* meter, metr – measure

tele – distant bio – life

logy – study; from logos, logue - speech or word*

micro – small or minute hydr, hydra, hydro – water

therm, thermo – heat or hot cracy, crat – rule

scope – to watch or see auto - self

biblio – book demo – people

geo – earth hypo – under

pol, polis, polit –city; method of cycl, cyclo – wheel or circle;

government circular

derm – skin techn – skill, art, or craft

chron, chrono – time psych – mind or soul

hyper – over, above, excessive gno, gnosi - know

M. Henry, 2021

More Greek Combining Forms (Roots)and Their Meaning

gon – angle sphere – sphere, circle

metro – mother city; measure phys – nature

mech – machine path – feeling, suffering, disease

arch – ruler, chief lex – word

phil, phila,, phile, philo – love mega – large or great

meta – beside soph – wisdom, cleverness

kine, cine – movement phobia – irrational fear or hatred

the, theo – god mania – madness, frenzy,

abnormal desire, or obsession

andr, anthr – man ast, astro – star

poly – many mon, mono - one

For less common Gk forms, see Unlocking Literacy, p. 149

For lists of words fitting each root, see Unlocking Literacy, Appendix G

M. Henry, 2021

M. Henry, 2021

Kaleidoscope

Greek: kalos - beautiful+ eidos - form

+ scope - to see

M. Henry, 2021

Activities Related to Greek Combining Forms

• Nym and onym are the Greek roots meaning name. Find as many words as possible ending in onym. Give examples of pseudonyms, antonyms, synonyms, and homonyms.

• Select unfamiliar words & ask questions related to word origin, clues, meaning, definition, etc.

Ex. Analyze the word pterodactyl. What is its origin? What are the two combining forms? What is the meaning of ptero and dactyl? In what subject areas might you find this word?

• Make a web for a Greek combining form such as phon/phono.

• Give students a sentence with an unknown word such as “Heterographs abound in the English language”. Students study word using a dictionary & thesaurus to find its origin, meaning, and synonyms. Have them look for additional examples (inquiry/enquiry; catalog/catalogue).

© M. Henry, 2010, 2005M. Henry, 2021

Greek Word Activities - 2

• Matching: Match the letter of the correct meaning with the GreekCombining form:_______ micro A. sound_______ ology B. life_______ auto C. watch or see_______ graph, gram D. self_______ therm E. distant_______ tele F. small_______ bio G. study_______ phon, phono H. water_______ scope I. heat_______ hydro J. written or drawn

• Have students categorize words in a textbook chapter accordingto origin. Prehistoric Times

Anglo-Saxon Latin Greekearthquake ancestors tectonicsembedded evolution anthropologisthunter extinct geologistspearhead aggregate archaeologyimprint volcano pterodactyl

Henry, M.K. (2003). Unlocking literacy: Effective decoding & Spelling Instruction. Baltimore: Brookes’ Pub.Henry, M.K., & Redding, N.C. (2002). Patterns for success in reading and spelling. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.M. Henry, 2021

Count the morphemes in these words:

autobiography auto + bio + graph + y (4)

bibliophile biblio + phile (2)

photosynthesis photo + syn + thesis (3)

M. Henry, 2021

M. Henry, 2021

Courtesy of AnnWhiting, Australianteacher extraordinaire

Identify the Language of Origin

philharmonic ___ psychology___

extraction ___ hopelessness ___

introspective ___ laughing ___

bookish ___ manufactured ___

expeditious ___ hydrophobia ___

auditor ___ astrophysics ___M. Henry, 2021

M. Henry, 2021

Dr. Larabee: Where do you think big words come from?

Akeelah: People with big brains?

Dr. L: So where do big words come from? From littlewords… Greek ones, Latin ones, French ones.

“You’ll win by using my methods, by first understandingthe power of language, then by deconstructing it!Breaking it down, to its origin…to its roots. You willconsume it, you will own it!

M. Henry, 2021

M. Henry, 2021

M. Henry, 2021

WebsitesA. Word. A. Day Home Page, www.wordsmith.org/awad/index.html

Explore English Words by Focusing on Words, www.wordexplorations.com

Online Etymology Dictionary, www.etymonline.com

Real Spelling, www.realspelling.fr

Vocabulogic, http://vocablog-plc.blogspot.com

Word Root Quick Reference, www.espindle.org/roots.html

Word Searcher, www.neilramsden.co.uk/spelling

The WordsWorth Compendium, www.dictionary-thesaurus.com

WordWorks, www.wordworkskingston.com

M. Henry, 2021

Reference & Activity Books for Morpheme Instruction

• Bebko, A.R., Alexander, J., & Doucet, R. (n.d.). LANGUAGE!: Roots(2nd ed.). Longmont, CO: Sopris West.

• Ebbers, S.M. (2004). Vocabulary through morphemes. Longmont, CO: Sopris West.

• Glaser, D. (2020). Morpheme magic. www.morphememagic.com. • Henry, M.K. (2010). Unlocking literacy: Effective decoding and

spelling instruction. (2nd ed). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.• Henry, M.K. (2010). WORDS: Integrated decoding and spelling

instruction based on word origin and word structure (2nd ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

• Henry, M.K., & Redding, N.C. (2021). Patterns for success in reading and spelling (2nd ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

• Marcellaro, E.G., & Ostrovsky, G.R. (1988). Verbal vibes series. Sacramento, CA: Lumen Publications.

• Morgan, K. (2002). Dynamic roots. Albuquerque, NM: Morgan Dynamic Phonics.

• Reid, G., & Clark, J. (In press). Dyslexia tools: Workbook for teens.Emeryville, CA: Rockridge Press.M. Henry, 2021

Contact Information

Marcia Henry, PhD

1900 Ballington Blvd NW, #203

Rochester, MN 55901

(507) 535-2107

Marciakhenry@gmail.com

M. Henry, 2021