Concept
Root (linguistics)
Overview
A root (also known as a root word or radical) is the core of a word that is irreducible into more meaningful elements. In morphology, a root is a morphologically simple unit which can be left bare or to which a prefix or a suffix can attach. The root word is the primary lexical unit of a word, and of a word family (this root is then called the base word), which carries aspects of semantic content and cannot be reduced into smaller constituents.
Content words in nearly all languages contain, and may consist only of, root morphemes. However, sometimes the term "root" is also used to describe the word without its inflectional endings, but with its lexical endings in place. For example, chatters has the inflectional root or lemma chatter, but the lexical root chat. Inflectional roots are often called stems. A root, or a root morpheme, in the stricter sense, is a mono-morphemic stem.
The traditional definition allows roots to be either free morphemes or bound morphemes. Root morphemes are the building blocks for affixation and compounds. However, in polysynthetic languages with very high levels of inflectional morphology, the term "root" is generally synonymous with "free morpheme". Many languages have a very restricted number of morphemes that can stand alone as a word: Yup'ik, for instance, has no more than two thousand.
Roots are sometimes notated using the radical symbol ⟨√⟩ to avoid potential conflation with other objects of analysis with similar spellings or pronunciation: for instance, √bhū- specifically denotes the Sanskrit root bhū-.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Root (linguistics) is discussed.
There are great differences, too, in the roots of trees. In the fig, the robur, and the plane, they are numerous; in the apple they are short and thin, while in the fir and the larch they are single; and by this single root is the tree supported, although we find some small fibres thrown out from it laterally. They are thick and unequal in the laurel and the olive, in which last they are branchy also; while in the…
the Elder Pliny, The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 3
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; commentary markers; states what it is; opens on it
In the Latin word _fero, fer_, meaning 'to bear,' is the root from which all modifications of the verb _ferre_ (to carry) are formed by means of suffixal elements. If, therefore, a language consists of sound complexes having the nature of roots, it is called a root-language. As a matter of fact, however, the languages under discussion consist purely of detached, monosyllabic _words_; the conception 'root,' which…
Wilhelm Max Wundt, Elements of Folk Psychology Outline of a Psychological History of the Development of Mankind
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
It is probable that these slight movements of the roots are due to the quicker growth of the side exposed to the light, in comparison with the other side, and not because the roots are sensitive to contact in the same manner as true tendrils. According to Mohl, the rootlets of certain species of _Lycopodium_ act as tendrils. {188} _Concluding Remarks on Climbing Plants_.
Charles Darwin, The Movements and Habits of Climbing Plants
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; opens on it
Again, wonderful as it may appear, the roots and branches of trees are similar instances. For every vegetable swells and throws out its constituent parts toward the circumference, both upward and downward. And there is no difference between the roots and branches, except that the root is buried in the earth, and the branches are exposed to the air and sun. For if one take a young and vigorous shoot, and bend it down…
Francis Bacon, Novum organum
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
Whilst a root is penetrating the ground, the tip must travel first; and we can see the advantage of its being sensitive to geotropism, as it has to determine the course of the whole root. Whenever the tip is deflected by any subterranean obstacle, it will also be an advantage that a considerable length of the root should be able to bend, more especially as the tip itself grows slowly and bends but…
Charles Darwin, The Power of Movement in Plants
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
Related ideas
- Hebrew language
- Word
- Language
- Latin
- Language acquisition
- Morpheme
- Maltese language
- Prefix
- Spanish language
- Semitic languages
- Sanskrit
- Semantics
- Vowel
- Suffix
- Syriac language
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Arabic
- English language
- Etymology
Place in the tradition
Part of Pandeism.