TY - JOUR
T1 - The acquisition of morphology
T2 - Learning the contribution of suffixes to the meanings of derivatives
AU - Nagy, William E.
AU - Diakidoy, Irene Anna N.
AU - Anderson, Richard C.
PY - 1993/6
Y1 - 1993/6
N2 - This study explored the development of students’ knowledge of the meanings of 10 common English suffixes. A test was constructed to assess students’ knowledge of the contribution of suffixes to the meanings of derivatives. Students were asked to choose which of several sentences correctly used a suffixed word. The suffixed words consisted of novel combinations of familiar stems and suffixes (e.g., butterless). Students were also tested on parallel items using familiar nonsuffixed words. The test was administered to 630 fourth-grade, seventh-grade, and high school students. Knowledge of the meanings of common English suffixes was found to undergo significant development between fourth grade and high school. Even in high school, however, there were some students who showed little knowledge of the meanings of these suffixes. The test identified students who have particular difficulties with English suffixes, and thus it has potential as a diagnostic tool.
AB - This study explored the development of students’ knowledge of the meanings of 10 common English suffixes. A test was constructed to assess students’ knowledge of the contribution of suffixes to the meanings of derivatives. Students were asked to choose which of several sentences correctly used a suffixed word. The suffixed words consisted of novel combinations of familiar stems and suffixes (e.g., butterless). Students were also tested on parallel items using familiar nonsuffixed words. The test was administered to 630 fourth-grade, seventh-grade, and high school students. Knowledge of the meanings of common English suffixes was found to undergo significant development between fourth grade and high school. Even in high school, however, there were some students who showed little knowledge of the meanings of these suffixes. The test identified students who have particular difficulties with English suffixes, and thus it has potential as a diagnostic tool.
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U2 - 10.1080/10862969309547808
DO - 10.1080/10862969309547808
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84965395534
SN - 1086-296X
VL - 25
SP - 155
EP - 170
JO - Journal of Literacy Research
JF - Journal of Literacy Research
IS - 2
ER -