Lecture No 1 Word as a basic language unit. Different approaches to the definition of the word. Word meaning as a linguistic phenomenon

Word as a basic language unit.

The basic unit forming the bulk of the vocabulary is the word, other units are morphemes that is parts of words and set expressions. Words are central elements of language system, they are the biggest units of morphology and the smallest of syntax, they embody the main structural properties and functions of the language.

Morphemes can not be divided into smaller meaningful units and are functioning in speech only as constituent parts of words.

Set expressions are word groups consisting of 2 or more words whose combination is integrated. So that they are introduced in speech.

The word may be described as the basic unit of a language. Uniting meaning and form, it is composed of one or more morphemes, each consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation. Morphemes are also meaningful units, but they can not be used independently, they are always parts of words.

Words can be used as a:

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  complete utterance [ e.g. Listen!]
  
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  Derived words [ listen-listener] – these are different words
  
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  Words may take functional affixes [listen-listened]. – these are different forms of the word
  
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  Words are syntactically organized when used in sentence
  

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