affiksoiden

Affiksoiden are a proposed class of semi-affixes in speculative linguistics. They behave like affixes in attaching to host words, but can also function as independent words in certain constructions. The term combines the English affix with the suffix -oide, and its plural form affiksoiden is used when discussing multiple units.

The concept appears in discussions of constructed languages and hypothetical language families. It is designed to model morphosyntactic units that occupy the middle ground between bound morphemes and free lexemes.

Morphology and syntax: Affiksoiden typically attach to verb or noun roots in post-root position but may appear in other hosts. They can be clitic-like or bound. Their functions include marking tense, aspect, mood, definiteness, number, or evidential stance. In some varieties they participate in compound expressions; in others they serve as discourse markers.

Distribution and usage: In speculative grammars, affiksoiden are described as more common in agglutinative or mixed systems within certain fictional regions. The literature cites about a dozen attested affiksoiden types, with phonotactic constraints that limit their environments.

Examples: In the fictional Talorin language, the verb stem kri- “to act” combines with affiksoide -nar to form kri-nar, meaning “past action.” Another affiksoide -ta marks definiteness when attached to nouns, as mer-ta “the sea.”

See also: Affix, Clitic, Morphology, Conlang.