Normans have paved the way for the non-Germanic trend the language has taken since that time.
From French English borrowed many words with suffixes & prefixes, they became assimilated in the language & started to be used in word building. It led to enormous cut down of the traditional word formation out of native material. Old prefixes (some of them) disappeared forever (too weak phonetically) Æt- Ed- Nowadays English has no prefixed equivalents for some German prefixes Er- Ver- Zer- A lot of borrowed prefixes in English: Auto- Demi- Mono- Multi- Semi- Post- SUFFIXATION A suffix is a derivative final element, which is or was productive in forming new words. It has semantic value, but doesn’t occur as an independent speech use. The contact of English with foreign languages has led to the adoption of countless foreign words, which started to be used in word building. → we have many hybrid types of derivatives. A hybrid is a word different element of which are of etymologically different origin. 2 groups: A foreign word is combined with a native affix Full Less Ness Clearness, faithless, faithful Foreign affixes are added to native words Ance Al Ity Able As for the first 3 they have never become productive in English; - able was assimilated in English very early and has became productive in many words. Eatable
|
