Definition of Derivation (Linguistics)

In the field of linguistics the concept of derivation refers to one of the processes of training of new words. This process has a criterion general: the union of a base or lexeme and a derivative morpheme.

Keep in mind that different words come from the same primitive word. Thus, all the words that come from a primitive are known as derived words. In this way, with the primitive word sun, I can form a series of derived words, such as solazo, insolación, solar, sunny, etc. For the referral process to be possible, a series of rules must be applied.

Rules of derivation in verbs, nouns and adjectives

In the case of verbs, the derivation is based on the union of a suffix and a lexeme. In this way, in the way verbal "Dreamed", the lexeme "soñ" is accompanied by the suffix "ado" of the participle. On the other hand, when verbs have a lexeme ending in "e" or "i", these two vowels disappear in the derivation (for example, "chirriar" becomes "chirrido").

With respect to nouns and adjectives, the derivation also has its rules. Thus, with the lexeme "house", the "a" disappears if we form the word "little house". Similarly, if we add the derivative morpheme "age" to the adjective "fool", we have the word "foolishness".

Other ways to form words

The derivation is not the only system to form words, since there is also the inflection, the composition and parasynthesis.

The inflection consists of adding an inflectional morpheme to a lexeme. Thus, there are inflectional morphemes of gender and number (for example, from the lexeme yellow, we can incorporate the inflectional morpheme as and we have the word yellow).

The composition does not start from the union of a morpheme to a base or lexeme, but rather it is about joining more than one base or more than one word. This results in a compound word (for example, umbrella, lightning rod, skyscraper, or noon).

In parasynthesis, words are formed by combining the principle of composition and derivation

In the case of the word “motorist”, there is a composition (car + mobile) and at the same time a derivation, since the suffix "ista" is added. On the other hand, parasynthesis is produced by the simultaneous union of a prefix and a suffix, such as the word “inasumible” (comes from assuming, but with the prefix “in” and the suffix “ible” it becomes "Unaffordable").

Photos: Fotolia - Drobot Dean