A Cognitive Approach To English Semi-affixes

English semi-affixes are a special kind of word-building element which are identical with independent morphemes in form but function as affixes,they are a continuum of various from independent morphemes to prototypical affixes,such as"soft-" "-speak" "-ware" in "soft-hearted" "Obama-speak" and "shareware".From the perspective of the prototype theory,this thesis attempts to probe into the categorical features and classification criteria for English semi-affixes and their forming mechanisms as well.There are three main findings in this thesis.Firstly,English semi-affixes are the peripheral members within the category of affixes in the light of the prototype theory.The categorical features of English semi-affixes are complicated for they own features of both independent morphemes and prototypical affixes.However,in general,they share more common features with prototypical affixes as in they possess word-building features of productivity,relative fixed-position,boundness and exhibit different degrees of semantic bleaching.They differ from prototypical affixes in that the form of English semi-affixes are same as their corresponding independent morphemes so they could stand alone.Secondly,based on the number and degrees of the categorical features possessed by a categorical member,this thesis divided English semi-affixes into three types:prototypical English semi-affixes,non-prototypical English semi-affixes and peripheral English semi-affixes.The first type meet all the categorical features of English semi-affixes with fixed-position,high degrees of productivity,boundness and semantic bleaching,such as "-based" "-like" "-type" and so on.The second type conform to most of the categorical features with lower degrees,especially the degree of productivity and semantic bleaching,semi-affixes like "-bound""-worthy" "-proof" are belong to this type.The third type only satisfy a few categorical features,they have low degree of productivity but strong potential to form new words,low degree of boundness but fixed in certain position when function as a semi-affix,their meanings have changed slightly compare to their corresponding independent morphemes,examples like "carbon-" "green-" and "-collar" are of this type.Finally,this thesis analyzed the forming mechanisms of English semi-affixes.Metaphor and metonymy transfer the concrete meanings of independent morphemes into more general or abstract ones via mapping based on similarity and contiguity between concepts.Independent morphemes are generally fixed in position and participate in formation under the influence of economy principle and analogy.Moreover,social and subjective needs for new expressions motivated the emergence of English semi-affixes.These factors interactively promote the development of English semi-affixes.