Morphology The Nature of Morpheme

• Word can be devided into segment of sound.

• Book can be devided /, , /.• Word into phoneme, or word into syllable• Morpheme VS syllable

– Morpheme (smallest grammatical meaning)– Syllable (grouping of sound because of

articulation)

• The word SOFA pronouced / /.• The word BALLON pronounced / :/

(The words above contain two syllables )• The word CAMERA pronounced / /

• The word HOOLIGAN pronounced /: /(the words have three syllables)

All the words above only have one morpheme. On the other hand the word BOOKS // has one syllable and two morphemes.

• When we devide word into morpheme, we focus on string of sound and syllable in phonological level.

• Consider the phonological form /sat/• 1. sight site cite• 2. right write wright riteThe words above have the same sound which

is called homophone. Homophone is the form which sound the same but differ in meaning.

• The same string of sounds may cumulatively represent several morphemes. The –s ending in English verbs walks signals three morphemes, namely third person, present tenseand singular number.

• Another example – Last week I cut the grass – I put the scissor in the dressing table yesterday– Last night they shut the factory downThe past tense morpheme represented by -ed is

called zero allomorph