Word Formation: Prefixes & Suffixes ENGLISH FOR COMPUTER - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Word Formation: Prefixes & Suffixes ENGLISH FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE EXTRA NOTES #3 EHSAN AKHGARI OCTOBER 2007

Introduction 2  Word formation in English: prefix stem suffix  Examples:  programmer: program + er (someone who programs)  underestimate: under + estimate (estimate somebody/something too little)  unrecognizable: un + recognize + able (cannot be recognized) Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

Interpreting the Meaning of Prefixes and Suffixes 3  Prefixes usually change the meaning of a word  Examples:  unpleasant  interactive  Suffixes usually change the part of speech of the word  Examples:  pleasantly  active  Be careful when interpreting the meanings based on prefixes and suffixes; it is easy to misjudge  Examples:  September, October, November, December Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

Prefixes 4  Prefixes can be categorized as below  Negative and positive  Size  Location  Time and order  Number Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

5 Negative and Positive Prefixes This prefix type is used to change the meaning of the stem negatively or positively. Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

6 Prefix Meaning Examples semiconductor semi- half, partly Prefixes of equidistant equi- equal Size minicomputer mini- small This prefix type is used microcomputer micro- very small to aggregate the meaning of a stem with macro- macroeconomics large, great a size concept. mega- megabyte Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

7 Prefix Meaning Examples interface, interactive inter- between, among Prefixes of intranet intra- within, inside of Location supersonic super- over This prefix type is used transmit, transfer trans- across to aggregate the meaning of a stem with exclude, extrinsic ex- out a location concept. include, intrinsic in- inside extraordinary extra- beyond subschema sub- under infra-red, infrastructure infra- below peripheral peri- around Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

8 Prefix Meaning Examples Prefixes of ante- antecedent Time and before pre- prefix Order primary, primitive prime- first This prefix type is used postdated post- after to aggregate the retroactive retro- backward meaning of a stem with a time or an order concept. Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

9 Prefix Meaning Examples semicircle semi- half Prefixes of monochromatic mono- one Numbers binary bi- two This prefix type is used triangle tri- three to aggregate the meaning of a stem with quadruple quad- four a number or count pentagon penta- five concept. hexadecimal hex six September seven sept(em)- octal oct- eight decimal dec- ten multiplexor, multi- many multidimensional Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

10 Prefix Meaning Examples before, in advance program pro- forward progress Other Prefixes automatic auto- self autobiography This prefix type autograph includes the prefixes co- coordinate which cannot be together, with con- connect categorized into any of the aforementioned categories. Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

Suffixes 11  Suffixes can be categorized as below  Noun-forming  Verb-forming  Adverb-forming  Adjective-forming Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

12 Prefix Meaning Examples performance -ance state Noun-forming independence -ence quality of Suffixes a person who programmer, operator -er, -or This suffix type creates a thing which compiler, accumulator nouns from the stems analyst, typist a person who -ist, -yst (usually verbs). electrician - ian pertaining to -tion, the act of compilation -ation readiness -ness condition of conversion -ion action/state multiplexing -ing activity measurement -ment state, action electricity -ity state, quality magnetism -ism condition/state kingdom, freedom -dom domain/condition relationship, partnership -ship condition/state Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

13 Prefix Meaning Examples computerize -ize/-ise Verb-forming -ate automate, activate, calculate to make Suffixes -ify simplify -en harden, widen This suffix type creates verbs from the stems. Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

14 Prefix Meaning Examples Adverb- electronically, logically, forming -ly in the manner of comparably, helpfully Suffixes This suffix type creates adverbs from the stems. Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

15 Prefix Meaning Examples Adjective- -al computational, logical forming -ar circular having the quality of Suffixes -ic magnetic, automatic -ical electrical This suffix type creates -able comparable adjectives from the capable of being -ible divisible stems. dangerous -ous like, full of helpful -ful characterized by careless -less without yellowish -ish like -ed computed having the quality of -ive interactive Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007

References 16  K. Boeckner, P. Charles Brown. Oxford English for Computing, Oxford University Press, 1996  Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11 th edition Sharif University of Technology 10/17/2007