Which term studies the structure of words, including roots and affixes?

Which term studies the structure of words, including roots and affixes?

• A. Orthography
• B. Morphology
• C. Etymology
• D. Phonology

Answer: (B)

Morphology is the study of the structure of words, including roots and affixes. Words are built from meaningful pieces called morphemes. The root carries the core meaning, while prefixes and suffixes attach to modify meaning or grammatical function. For example, consider a word formed from a base like “act” with a prefix and a suffix to change its meaning and part of speech, showing how pieces come together to create new words. This focus on how words are assembled from roots and attached elements is what morphology is all about. Orthography concerns spelling, etymology looks at word origins and history, and phonology studies sound systems; none of these center on the internal structure of words like morphology does.

Morphology is the study of the structure of words, including roots and affixes. Words are built from meaningful pieces called morphemes. The root carries the core meaning, while prefixes and suffixes attach to modify meaning or grammatical function. For example, consider a word formed from a base like “act” with a prefix and a suffix to change its meaning and part of speech, showing how pieces come together to create new words. This focus on how words are assembled from roots and attached elements is what morphology is all about. Orthography concerns spelling, etymology looks at word origins and history, and phonology studies sound systems; none of these center on the internal structure of words like morphology does.