Module 2: Morphology · Section exam
Morphology exam
A 10-question review of all 5 lessons in Module 2: Morphology. Answer every question, then check your answers: each one comes with an explanation, and you can retake the exam as often as you like.
Morphology exam Module 2: Morphology review
10 questions · self-graded
1 In Embick's framing, what are the primitive elements of a grammar, and what combines them into complex structures? Words, combined by phonology Lexemes, combined by inflection Morphemes, combined by the syntax Roots, combined by semantics
For Embick, a grammar is a set of primitive elements plus rules for building complex objects. The primitives are morphemes, and the syntax combines them.
2 How is the -ed in hugged best classified? A derivational affix that creates a new lexeme An inflectional, functional morpheme that leaves the lexeme unchanged A zero categorizer that turns a root into a verb A bound lexical root
The -ed suffix is a functional morpheme marking tense. Like the endings on walked , it is inflectional and doesn't change the lexical meaning, so no new lexeme results.
3 Which of these are examples of derivational morphology? Select all that apply dermatology becoming dermatologist walk becoming walks examine becoming examination hug becoming hugged well and read forming well read
Derivational affixes (-ist , -ation ) and compounding (well read ) form new words. The -s on walks and the -ed on hugged are inflectional endings on the same lexeme.
4 Which of these are bound morphemes, according to the section? Select all that apply girl the root dermat- in dermatologist a Hebrew consonantal root a Greek root
Dermat- can't stand alone in English, and Hebrew and Greek roots must always co-occur with another morpheme. Girl stands on its own, so it is free.
5 A derived word's meaning can be analyzed as the semantics of its root plus the semantics of its categorizer. True or false True False
Roots are acategorial and always need a categorizer. The meaning of each derived word comes from what the root carries plus what the categorizer contributes.
6 A reader argues: "_journal_ and journey come from the same root, so they must share a component of meaning." What is wrong with this reasoning? Words sharing a root can drift apart, so shared root does not predict shared meaning Journal and journey do not actually come from the same rootRoots carry only phonological information, never meaning Only inflectional morphemes carry meaning, so roots are irrelevant
Similarity in root does not predict similarity in meaning, because words drift over time. The real question is when words from the same root share meaning, and what the root contributes.
7 Which statements about functional and lexical morphemes are correct? Select all that apply Lexical morphemes contain no logical components at all Functional morphemes usually have logical meanings Lexical morphemes form an open class with new members added all the time New functional morphemes are created easily and often Tense, number, and negation are typical functional categories
Functional morphemes are a closed class with usually logical meanings, including tense, number, and negation. Lexical morphemes form an open class and lack a purely logical meaning, though they may still have some logical components.
8 Which test does this section use to identify a noun ? It names a person, place, thing, or idea It can be the complement of a determiner, quantifier, or numeral and stand in a verb's argument position It has a subject and can be inflected for tense It modifies another word and combines with degree morphemes
Nouns are defined mainly by syntax. The school definition fails because nouns can also be events, as in "the examination lasted five hours."
9 Greek ho Iēsous is ordinary, but a literal English "the Jesus" is not. Which explanation does the section consider more likely? English proper nouns behave differently from Greek ones Greek proper nouns are really common nouns The Greek article differs from the English article English lacks a definite article for names
Either the article or proper nouns must differ between the two languages. The section favors the view that the Greek article differs, and asking how it differs sheds light on what the article means elsewhere.
10 Hebrew forms compounds as readily as Greek and English do. True or false True False
Greek compounds readily and English is very good at it, but Hebrew is quite poor at compounding, with few clear examples. Tsalmavet is one possible case.
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