Inflection
Inflection is variation in the form of a word, typically by means of an affix, that expresses a grammatical contrast which is obligatory for the stem’s word class in some given grammatical context.
In contrast to derivation , inflection:
- does not result in a change of word class
- usually produces a predictable, nonidiosyncratic change of meaning
(English)
- In the following English sentence, come is inflected for person and number by the suffix -s:
- The mailman comes about noon.
(Spanish)
- In the following Spanish noun phrase, las and rojas are inflected for agreement with manzanas in grammatical gender by -a and in number by -s:
- las manzanas rojas ‘the red apples’
Richards, Jack, John Platt, and Heidi Weber. 1985.Longman dictionary of applied linguistics. Harlow, Essex, England: Longman.
Quirk, Randolph, S. Greenbaum, G. Leech, and J. Svartvik. 1985.A comprehensive grammar of the English language. London: Longman.
Payne, Thomas E. (1997) .Describing morphosyntax: A guide for field linguists. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press.
Mish, Frederick (editor). 1991.Webster's ninth new collegiate dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster. 1,564 pages. 0877795088; indexed 0877795096; deluxe 087779510X.
Hartmann, R.R.K., and F.C. Stork. 1972.Dictionary of language and linguistics. London: Applied Science.
Crystal, David. 1985.A dictionary of linguistics and phonetics. 2nd edition. New York: Basil Blackwell.
Bybee, Joan L. 1985.Morphology: A study of the relation between meaning and form. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Broader Terms
Related terms
- RT⇆ Affix (Linguistics)
- RT⇆ Agreement
- RT⇆ Case
- RT⇆ Derivation
- RT⇆ Derivative
- RT⇆ Epistemic Modality
- RT⇆ Finite Verb
- RT⇆ Grounding
- RT⇆ Idiom
- RT⇆ Infinitive
- RT⇆ Inflectional Affix
- RT⇆ Irregular Verb
- RT⇆ Lexical Form
- RT⇆ Minor Entry In A Lexical Database
- RT⇆ Mood And Modality
- RT⇆ Morphological Process
- RT⇆ Nonfinite Verb
- RT⇆ Noun
- RT⇆ Number
- RT⇆ Paradigm
- RT⇆ Person Deixis
- RT⇆ Root
- RT⇆ Stem
- RT⇆ Verb (Linguistics)
- ExactMatch: https://glossary.sil.org/term/inflection
