English Prefix

Based on the fact described above, the types of English derivational morphemes can be classified into two, derivational prefixes and derivational suffixes. The following is the explanation about some derivational prefixes in English
All prefixes in English are derivational so that all the prefixes in English create new meaning or create new words. The creation of new meaning can be accompanied by the change part of speech or not. Most prefixes do not change part of speech. The prefix which changes the part of speech, for example, is the prefix en-. The prefix en- changes the bases into verbs. The word enlarge for example, consists of the prefix en- and the base large. The prefix en- changes the adjective large to the new verb enlarge. The prefix en-in the word endanger changes the noun to verb. The prefix a- in aside changes the noun side to the adverb aside. The other prefixes which do not change part of speech are explained as follows:

● Prefix un-

There are two kinds of the prefix un- in English. The first is attached to adjectives to form new adjectives, and the second is attached to verbs to form new verbs. The two kinds of the prefix un- do not change the part of speech. The prefix un- attached to adjectives means ‘not’. Fromkin (1990: 130) calls this derivation antonym or negative. The examples of prefix un- attached to adjectives unable (un + able), unafraid (un + afraid), and unimportant (un + important)
The prefix un- can also be added to the adjectives of the derived words that have been formed by morphological rules (Fromkin, 1990 : 130). The examples are unacceptable (un + acceptable) unavoidable (un + avoidable), unbelievable (un + believable) unpredictable (un + predictable) and unreachable (un + readable).
Based on the examples above the rule of the prefix un- attached to adjectives can be stated as: {un-} + ADJECTIVE  new ADJECTIVE. This rule says that the prefix un- attached to an adjective creates a new adjective. The new adjective is indicated by the change of meaning. In this case the prefix un- means ‘not’
The second prefix un- joins with verbs to form new verbs. In this case the prefix un- means ‘to do the opposite of ’ (Hornby, 1986: 935). The examples of the prefix un- which combines with verbs are unbind (un + bind), uncover (un + cover) undo (un + do) undress (un + dress) unload (un + load), unlock (un + lock) , untie (un +tie)
From the examples above, the rule of prefix un- attached to verbs can be stated as: {un-} + VERB  new VERB. This rule says that the prefix un- attached to a verb creates a new verb. The new verb is indicated by the change of meaning namely ‘to do the opposite of’.

● Prefix in-
The prefix in- is the derivational bound morpheme mostly attached to adjectives. This prefix does not change the part of speech either. The meaning of this prefix is ‘not’. The examples are inaccurate (in + accurate), intolerant (in + tolerant), inefficient (in + efficient), inexpensive (in + expensive) , infertile (in + fertile), and illegal (in + legal).
From the examples above, the rule of prefix in- attached to adjectives can be stated as: {in-} + ADJECTIVE  new ADJECTIVE. This rule says that the prefix in- attached to an adjective creates a new adjective. The new adjective is indicated by the change of meaning ‘not’ in the derived word.

● Prefix re-
The prefix re- is the derivational bound morpheme attached to verbs to form new verbs. The meaning of the prefix re- is ‘again’. The examples are rearrange, (re + arrange), reconsider (re + consider), reconstruct (re + construct), replay (re + play), reprint ( re +print) and rewrite (re + write)
Based on the examples above, the rule of prefix re- attached to verbs can be stated as: {re-} + VERB  new VERB. This rule says that the prefix re- attached to a verb creates a new verb. The new verb as the derived word is indicated by the change of meaning ‘again’.

● Prefix dis-
The prefix dis- is a derivational morpheme which can be attached to verbs to form new verbs. This prefix has several meanings but its basic meaning is ‘not’. The examples are disagree (dis + agree), disappear( dis + appear), and dislike (dis + like).
Based on the examples above, the rule of the prefix dis- attached to verbs can be stated as: {dis-}+ VERB  new VERB. The new verb is indicated by the change of meaning. In this case, the prefix dis- brings the basic meaning ‘not’ to the verb.The prefix dis- can be attached to nouns to form new nouns. The examples are disadvantage (disi + advantage), discomfort (dis + comfort), and disharmony (dis + harmony)
Based on the examples above, the rule of the prefix dis- attached to nouns can be stated as: {dis-}+ NOUN  new NOUN. The new noun is indicated by the change of meaning. In this case, the prefix dis- brings the basic meaning ‘not’ to the noun.
The prefix dis- can also be attached to adjectives to form new adjectives. The examples are disable(dis = able), dishonest (dis + honest), and dissimilar (dis + similar).
Based on the examples above, the rule of the prefix dis- attached to adjectives can be stated as: {dis-}+ ADJECTIVE  new ADJECTIVE. The new adjective is indicated by the change of meaning. In this case, the prefix dis- brings the basic meaning ‘not’ to the adjectives. The prefix dis- attached to verbs are more productive than that attached to nouns and adjectives (Bauer, 1983 : 220).



REFERENCES

Bauer, Laurie. 1983. English Word Formation. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Bauer, Laurie. 1988. Introducing Linguistic Morphology. Edinburgh : Edinburgh
University Press.

Fromkin, Victoria A. 1990. An Introduction to Language. Sydney: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich Group (Australia) Pty Limited.

Hornby, AS. 1986. Oxford Advanced Dictionary of Current English. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.