Circumfix Example

This example is provided to help you understand how to enter circumfix-related content for use with the XAmple parser. Of course, real language data is often more complex. You can see Language Explorer screen shots of this example, including the interlinearized word. Circumfixes are handled differently with the Hermit Crab parser.

Example: Prefix/Suffix Circumfix

From Bahasa Indonesia data, the word bangun is a verb meaning to wake up. The noun kebangunan, which means awakening, is derived with the addition of the ke- prefix and the –an suffix. These affixes act together to form a single morpheme (nominalizer morpheme), even though they are on opposite ends of the stem.

Create the lexical entry

1. Create the lexical entry for the circumfix, entering the following in the New Entry dialog box:

   • In the Lexeme Form box, enter ke-…-an.

     That is, enter the prefix, the prefix token (here a hyphen), three periods, the suffix token (here a hyphen), and the suffix.

     Alternatively, you can simply separate the prefix and suffix portions by a space, such as ke- -an.

   • In the Morpheme Type box, select circumfix.

   • In the Gloss box, enter NMLZR (for nominalizer morpheme).

   • In the Affix Type box, select Derivational.

   • In the Attaches to Category box, select Verb.

   • In the Changes to Category box, select Noun.

   • Click Create.

   The entry is added to the lexicon. Notice that the Is Abstract Form check box was automatically selected ().

   Also, two affix allomorph entries are also automatically inserted, based on the position of the tokens used in the lexeme form. For this example, allomorphs for both the prefix ke and the suffix an were inserted.

2. In the Morph Type fields for the automatically-inserted affix allomorphs, verify that the morpheme types are correct. Change any morpheme type that is not correct.

3. If either of the automatically-inserted allomorphs have allomorphs, manually insert their allomorph(s).

   Note: The parser does not recognize the morph type circumfix. So if an allomorph is added with the morph type set to circumfix, the parser will not know what to do with it. You need to separate halves of the circumfix as distinct allomorphs, setting their morpheme type to prefix (or infix) for the initial half and to suffix for the final half.

   For this example, no additional allomorphs are inserted.

4. Insert environments and then choose the environments that are appropriate for each affix allomorph, remembering that the environments are independent of each other.

   The lexical entry and the circumfix information are now available for interlinearizing and the parsers. Parsers require both the prefix and suffix members to appear simultaneously for them to be parsed as an instance of this entry.

   For this example, no environments are required.

 Tip

• For more information, point to Resources on the Help menu, and then click Introduction to Parsing. Circumfixes are discussed under Lexical Entry Considerations.

Related Topics

Circumfix Example screen shots (pictures)

Lexicon Edit overview

Morphology and Parsing Tasks overview