Question

The smallest unit of language that has meaning is called a-------------

• A. morpheme
• B. phoneme
• C. consonant
• D. vowel

Answer 1

Answer:

A. morpheme

Understanding Morphemes in Linguistics

• Definition: A morpheme is the smallest unit of language that carries meaning. It cannot be divided into smaller meaningful parts.
• Examples:
  • The word 'unbreakable' has three morphemes: 'un-' (meaning 'not'), 'break' (the base word), and '-able' (meaning 'capable of being').
  • The word 'cats' has two morphemes: 'cat' (the base word) and '-s' (indicating plural).
• Types of Morphemes:
  • Free Morphemes: These can stand alone as words and have meaning. Examples include 'run', 'play', 'cat', 'dog'.
  • Bound Morphemes: These cannot stand alone and must be attached to another morpheme to have meaning. They often function as prefixes or suffixes. Examples include 'un-', '-ed', '-ing', '-ly'.
• Significance in Language: Morphemes are fundamental building blocks for words. Understanding them is crucial for understanding word formation (morphology) and the structure of language.
• Relevance to Exams: Questions about morphemes often appear in competitive exams testing vocabulary, English grammar, and linguistics. Identifying morphemes helps in understanding word origins, meanings, and correct usage.