Estrutura e formação de palavras - Brasil Escola

Summary

In this lesson, Professor Jair Beraldo introduces the structure and formation of words in the Portuguese language. The lesson covers the study of morphemes, which are the building blocks of words, and the processes by which words are formed. Key concepts include radicals, affixes (prefixes and suffixes), and specific morphemes like desinence, thematic vowels, and linking consonants. The professor also explores word formation processes such as derivation, composition, onomatopoeia, and abbreviation, with examples to help clarify each concept. This informative session aims to provide a deeper understanding of how words are structured and created in Portuguese.

Takeaways

• 😀 Morphemes are the basic building blocks of words in Portuguese, like the bricks of a wall.
• 😀 A radical is the core meaning of a word, like the foundation of a house, and it remains consistent across related words.
• 😀 Prefixes are added before the radical to change the meaning of a word, such as 'in-' in 'infeliz' (unhappy) to negate it.
• 😀 Suffixes are added after the radical to modify the word's meaning or grammatical category, such as '-mente' in 'infelizmente' (unfortunately).
• 😀 A desinência (ending) is a specific type of suffix that indicates grammatical flexion, such as gender, number, or verb conjugation.
• 😀 Nominal desinências indicate gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural), like in 'garoto' (boy) vs. 'garota' (girl).
• 😀 Verbal desinências indicate conjugation for tense, mood, and person, such as '-ria' in 'falaríamos' (we would speak).
• 😀 Vogal temática (thematic vowels) help identify the verb conjugation, with 'a' for the first conjugation (e.g., 'estudar'), 'e' for the second (e.g., 'comer'), and 'i' for the third (e.g., 'dormir').
• 😀 The theme of a word is the combination of the radical and the thematic vowel, like 'montan' + 'a' = 'montanha' (mountain).
• 😀 Words can also be formed by euphony, where a linking vowel or consonant is added to improve pronunciation, as seen in 'ultrassom' or 'cafeicultura'.

Q & A

What are morphemes in the context of word formation?

Morphemes are the building blocks of words in the Portuguese language. They are the smallest meaningful units that combine to form a complete word, similar to how bricks combine to form a wall. Key types of morphemes include the radical (root), affixes (prefixes and suffixes), and others such as desinences, thematic vowels, and linking vowels or consonants.

How can you identify the radical of a word?

The radical is the core meaning of a word and can be identified by looking for similar structural and semantic patterns in related words. For example, in words like 'ferreiro,' 'ferrugem,' 'ferragem,' and 'ferradura,' the part 'ferr' is the radical, relating to the concept of iron.

What is the function of prefixes in word formation?

Prefixes are affixes added before the radical of a word to modify its meaning or change its grammatical category. For example, in words like 'infeliz' (unhappy), 'desleal' (disloyal), and 'reler' (to reread), the prefixes 'in-', 'des-', and 're-' each alter the meaning of the base word.

What is the role of suffixes in word formation?

Suffixes are added to the end of the radical to modify the meaning of the word or change its grammatical category. For instance, in 'felizmente' (happily), 'comestível' (edible), and 'lealdade' (loyalty), the suffixes '-mente,' '-ível,' and '-dade' alter the base word's function.

What is the difference between a prefix and a suffix?

A prefix is added before the radical to modify its meaning, while a suffix is added after the radical. For example, in 'infeliz,' 'in-' is a prefix, while in 'felizmente,' '-mente' is a suffix.

What is a desinence, and how does it function in a word?

A desinence is a specific type of suffix that indicates grammatical flexion, such as changes in gender, number, or tense. For example, in words like 'garoto' (boy) and 'garota' (girl), the desinence indicates gender, while in verbs like 'falaríamos' (we would speak), it indicates future tense.

What is the function of thematic vowels in words?

Thematic vowels are used to indicate the conjugation of verbs or the ending of nouns. In verbs, for example, the thematic vowel 'a' in 'estudar' indicates the first conjugation, 'e' in 'comer' indicates the second conjugation, and 'i' in 'dormir' indicates the third conjugation.

What are linking vowels or consonants, and why are they used?

Linking vowels or consonants are added to improve the euphony, or sound quality, of a word. For example, in 'ultrassom,' the linking 's' makes the pronunciation smoother, and in 'cafeicultura,' the linking vowel 'i' was added for better sound.

Can you explain the difference between composition and derivation in word formation?

Composition involves combining two existing words or radicals to create a new word, such as 'guarda-chuva' (umbrella). Derivation involves modifying a single word or radical by adding affixes to form a new word, such as 'desleal' (from 'leal' + 'des-').

What is onomatopoeia, and how does it relate to word formation?

Onomatopoeia is the formation of words by imitating sounds, such as 'tic-tac' (the sound of a clock) or 'ping-pong' (the sound of a ball bouncing). These words are formed by replicating sounds associated with the actions or objects they describe.