The Mystery of English Word Formation (Revised Edition)

Author: Wang Fengxin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: To learn English vocabulary, one must first master its pronunciation, spelling, and meaning—the three components of sound, form, and sense. English is a phonetic script, and there are certain patterns between pronunciation and spelling. In most cases, seeing the spelling allows for accurate pronunciation, such as monosyllabic words with open syllables, closed syllables, and r-controlled syllables. Of course, due to factors like etymology, there are many words in English that deviate from pronunciation rules, such as homophones, which are prone to mispronunciation. Beginners need to be particularly cautious. Conversely, in most cases, correct pronunciation leads to accurate spelling. However, exceptions exist, such as homographs, which require careful attention. Since most English textbooks cover pronunciation and spelling rules and their relationship, this book does not elaborate on them. An English word can be broken down into smaller units—morphemes, which include roots that carry the basic meaning and affixes that add additional or grammatical meanings, such as prefixes attached to the beginning of roots and suffixes attached to the end. Once beginners have mastered a certain number of roots, if they can also grasp a considerable number of affixes, they will be like a tiger with wings, rapidly expanding their vocabulary. Many English textbooks and specialized books on English word formation thoroughly explain various affixes and the methods of forming derived words. Learners often find that when searching English dictionaries, it is easier to locate words with prefixes and quickly find many words with the same prefix, which aids in memorization. However, flipping through a dictionary may not reveal words with a particular suffix, and it is difficult to group many words with the same suffix for comparison. Therefore, this book will focus on some commonly used suffixes. Most common English textbooks and specialized books on word formation analyze the relationship between pronunciation and spelling but rarely discuss the connection between spelling, pronunciation, and meaning. English is not a pictographic language, making it difficult for beginners to link spelling and meaning. Regarding pronunciation and meaning, most linguists believe that, apart from onomatopoeic words, there is no inherent connection between the two, meaning that the association between a word's pronunciation and its meaning is arbitrary. This view was once considered settled for a long time. In recent years, many Chinese and foreign scholars have revisited this topic related to the origin of language. They feel that there is currently insufficient evidence to demonstrate a necessary connection between pronunciation and meaning, and further exploration is needed. However, I believe that English contains a significant number of morphemes with fixed pronunciation and spelling forms that carry fixed meanings. Teaching these mystical patterns to beginners will help them learn and master English words. This book will provide a detailed analysis of many such morphemes. This book is a companion to my previous work, The Charm of English Vocabulary, and is the second book I have written to explain English vocabulary in a popular and systematic manner. The Charm of English Vocabulary blends linguistic and cultural knowledge to explore the mysteries of English vocabulary from a cultural depth. This book, however, takes a different approach, focusing on dissecting the three superficial layers of English vocabulary—pronunciation, spelling, and meaning—and analyzing the intrinsic connections between sound, form, and sense. It seeks to uncover the mysteries of English word formation, further assisting readers in cleverly memorizing and understanding English vocabulary.