Derivation Vs. Inflection

DERIVATION VS. INFLECTION

Two submodules in the morphological module

1. Derivation  accounts for the morphological structure of the items found in the lexicon, or dictionary, of the grammar in terms of o roots o derivational affixes o derivational rules

2. Inflection  reflects the actual use of lexical items in sentences in terms of o inflectional affixes o inflectional rules

Some other contrasts between derivation and inflection:

1. Relationship to syntax

Derivational morphology  independent of syntax: the dictionary and all the information provides material to be assembled into sentences by the syntactic module

Inflectional morphology  entirely dependent upon syntax o inflection alter lexical items to reflect their sentential environments o inflectional rules apply to words after they have been placed into sentences

2. Creativity

Derivational morphology  derivation is powerfully creative - creates new lexical items.

 derivation can create new lexical items in an extremely economical and powerful way: many of its processes may (re)apply to existing lexical material (they are recursive). Inflectional morphology  Inflection is rather interpretative: it "scans" sentences and applies only if and when certain lexical items are found in certain contexts.