Component of Language

Let's take your time, to identify component of language

By: Erick

Component of Language 

Definition of language : The method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way.

• Phoneme
• Morpheme
• Word
• Phrase
• Clause
• Sentence

Explanation:

• Phoneme

Definition of phoneme: Any of the perceptually distinct units of sound in a specified language that distinguish one word from another, for example p, j, d, etc.

• Morpheme 

• Free Morpheme (FM) 

• can stand alone in a sentence.

• without being attached to another morpheme

• root word 

• E.g: Teach, Polite, Walk, etc.  

•  Bound Morpheme (BM)

• meaning-bearing units of language,

• such as prefixes and suffixes, that are attached to free morpheme. 

• They cannot stand alone.

• E.g: Teacher, Impolite, Walks, etc.

Note: 

Teacher -------> Teach (FM) er (BM-Suffix) 

Impolite -------> Im (BM-Prefix) polite (FM)

• Word

Definition of word: A single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown.

E.g.: walk, working, eat, speak etc. 

• Phrase

Definition of Phrase: A small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit, typically forming a component of a clause.

Formula of Phrase: M + H + M or H + M <------|--|------> (M : Modifier) and (H : Head)

E.g: Handsome boy 

Explanation: Handsome is adjective so handsome has been Modifier and boy is noun so boy has been Head

Phrase divided to: 

• Noun Phrase

Definition: noun in head

• Formula: M + H + M 

 E.g: Red car |----> Red (modifier-Adjective) | car (Head-Noun)

• Adjective Phrase

Definition: adjective in head

• Formula: M + H + M

E.g: Very beautiful |----> Very (Modifier-Adv) | beautiful (Head-Adj) 

• Adverbial Phrase

Definition: adverb in head

• Formula: M + H + M

E.g: Very slowly |----> Very (Modifier-Adv) | Slowly (Head-adv)

• Verb Phrase 

Definition: verb in head

• Formula: H + M

E.g.: Study hard |----> Study (Head-verb) | hard (Modifier-adv) 

• Prepositional Phrase

Definition: Phrase with prepositional in front of phrase

• Formula: Prepositional + object of prepositional

E.g.: Because of you |----> Because of (Prepositional) | you (object of prepositional)

• Clause

A clause is a part of a sentence. There are two main types: independent (main clauses), dependent (subordinate clauses).

• Main Clause

•  An independent clause is a complete sentence;

• it contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought in both context and meaning.
• Formula: S + V  

 E.g: Rezy cry

Explain: Rezy is Subject (S) | cry is Verb (V)

• Sub Clause

• A dependent (subordinate) clause is part of a sentence; 

• it contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. They can make sense on their own, but, they are dependent on the rest of the sentence for context and meaning. They are usually joined to an independent clause to form a complex sentence.

•  Formula: Conjunction + S + V

 E.g: because his girl friend make affair 

Explain: because is conjunction (conj) | his girl friend is subject (S) | make affair is verb (V)

Main Clause + Sub clause = Complete Sentence

Rezy cry because his girl friend make affair

S |  V   | Conj |            S        |          V   

Try this Exercises!!!