affiksi

Affiksi (affixes) are bound morphemes that attach to a word stem to modify its meaning or grammatical function. They are a central mechanism of word formation in many languages, enabling both derivation of new words and inflection of grammatical categories. In Indonesian linguistics, affiksi are categorized as prefixes, suffixes, infixes, and circumfixes, though not all languages use all types.

There are four main types:

- Prefixes attach at the beginning of a stem (for example, me- in Indonesian, which often marks active voice on verbs, as in membaca “to read”).

- Suffixes attach at the end (for example, -kan in tuliskan “write down,” forming a transitive or applicative sense).

- Infixes insert inside the stem, a pattern found in only some languages.

- Circumfixes wrap around both sides of the stem, forming a single affixal unit, as in ke- ... -an in Indonesian, which can create abstract nouns from adjectives or verbs (for example keberhasilan from berhasil).

Functions:

Affixes can be derivational, creating new words and often changing word class, or inflectional, signaling tense, aspect, voice, number, case, or mood without changing core meaning.

Productivity and variation:

Affixes vary in productivity; some are highly productive, generating many forms, while others are limited to specific words. Phonological assimilation and allomorphy often accompany attachment.

Cross-linguistic note:

Affix systems are characteristic of many synthetic and agglutinative languages and contrast with isolating languages that rely less on affixation.

Indonesian usage:

Indonesian employs extensive affixation, with me-, di-, ber-, ke- prefixes and -kan, -i, -an suffixes enabling rich verb and noun formation.