What is an affix? (Grammar)

Definition
	An affix is a bound morpheme which adds lexical or syntactic information to a root or stem.

Kinds
	Some languages have zero affixes, whereby meaning is conveyed by the absence of an affix.

Compare and contrast: Affix and root or stem

Here is a table that compares and contrasts affixes and roots or stems:

Affixes	Roots or Stems
Usually have grammatical meaning (but derivational affixes may have lexical meaning).	Usually have lexical meaning.
Are usually members of closed syntactic classes.	Are usually members of open syntactic classes.
Are always bound.	May be bound or free.

Concept module: affix
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): A
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004