A.

Affixes in Syntax
Affixes in syntax usually known as syntactic devices. Syntactic device are

meant to form syntactical construction words are arranged together in form a

meaningful combination of words. There are some kind of syntactic device which is

usually use such as word order, inflection, derivation, function words and prosody.
a. Word order
Meaningful word order or known as word order is one of the

syntactic devices that has to be used in building syntactical

construction. The words become understandable because the formation

of words. For example we take a string of words girls the. This string

of word has no meaning because it is not acceptable in English. To

make this jumble of words become a syntactical construction we need

to change the word order. In English subordinative construction, the

word order is modifier first and followed by the head (M H). so the

syntactical construction of the string of words girls the is the girls.

This is understandable because when we talk about putting words

together, the main points is how to arrange them words order.

b. Inflectional

Inflection use as a marker which a group of words are

identified as a construction, and not just a jumble of words. For

example the boy smile. This is can not categorize as construction, and

has no meaning. To make it acceptable to said as a construction we can

add the inflectional suffix s to the word smile, the words are tied

together and it is acceptable and also has meaning. So it become the

boy smiles. The suffix here called as syntactic device to form a

construction. We put suffix s because the subject is the third singular

person. This is to indicate the syntactic linkage between the two words.

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For another example we can analyze the words the announce. We can

understand that this two words do not linkage correctly. We can make

linkage wech other using such syntactical devices as:

1. Inflection
Inflection is form word which used inflectional suffixes.

The words she announce change into she announces.

The inflectional suffix s here indicate the linkage

between she and announce because the subject is the

third singular person. Then this is form a predicative

construction, which the first IC is she and the second IC

is announces.
2. Derivation
Derivational is a form word that use derivational

suffixes. The words she announce can be change into

her announcement. The ment here added to the verb

announce to change it into derivative noun

announcement, while pronoun she change into

possessive pronoun her. The result of this two words

form an attributive construction. The Head is

announcement as the first IC and the modifier her as the

second IC.
3. Function word
Function word here are also use to indicate the jumble

of word she announce into syntactical construction she

will announce. By inserting an auxiliary verb such will,

may, can, must, etc. the jumble of word could become a

syntactical construction of the predicative type. The

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 subject she as the first IC and the predicative will

announce as the second IC. The predicate its self

indicate as attributive construction with anounce as the

head and will as the modifier. Preposition and

conjunction can also indicate syntactical linkage. For

example boys blue can not said as a construction so we

need to put in which is indicate the linkage between this

two words. So it become boys in blue.

4. Prosody
This term refers to the intonation contour which always

accompanies the production of sentence. He smiles

beautifully can indicate a s a statement if the intonation

is falling and as question when the intonation Is rise.

The intonation could be rising (yes/no question, polite

request, statements implying some emotion), falling

intonation (statement, orders, prohibition, question

word), and sustained intonation (continuation sentence).

B. Word in Syntax

Since syntax is the study of the arrangement of words into phrases and

sentences ar syntactical construction, the function of words in here is very important.

Words in syntax used as the basic point to build a syntactical construction so words

become the smallest units. Words in syntax commonly known as IC-s (immediate

Constituent). Words categorize a s content words and function words. Content words

such as noun (table, john, rose, chair, etc), verb (run, love, kiss, hug, etc) adjective

(envy, beautiful, handsome, thin), and adverb (tomorrow, yesterday, beautifully, etc).

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function words such as auxiliary word (can, will, must, etc), determiner articles (his,

that, a, etc), preposition (in, out, with, until, etc), qualifier (very, quite, so, etc),

interrogators (when, who, how, etc), negators (not, nor), conjunction (since, while,

because, etc), pronoun (I, you, she, etc), and interjection (wow, oh, ugh, etc).

Here are some differences between content words and function words. First,

content words have clear lexical meaning and function words do not have it. Content

words just like clearly mention in dictionary such influence mean effected by

something. Function words do not have clear lexical meaning such of. It could be

possession or relation of an object. Second, content words have a lower frequencies of

occurrence in speaking and writing context such kick we can not used it regularly

because we explain about it. Meanwhile function words in speaking and writing

context have higher frequency of occurrence such words of, and, and but. Third, the

amount of content word is very much, we can not used our finger to count it. On the

other hand, function words simply can count it using our finger. Fourth, content

words have a former makers such words girls, the suffix s indicate the words as a

noun while function words do not have a former makers. Last but not least, content

words categorize as open class and function words as closed class. Open class the

characteristic of content word which can be produce a new words influence by culture

and technology such as internet, website, smartphone and so on. Closed class can not

produce a new word. It is just the way it is and it can not be expended. There are two

kind construction which words can build endocentic construction and exocentric

construction.

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 SOURCES

Muin, Fatchul dan Nanik Mariani. 2007. Introduction to Linguistics: Teaching and Learning

Material. Banjarmasin: PT. LKIS Pelangi Aksara.

Handout for syntax class.

http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/contentwordterm.htm

http://grammar.about.com/od/fh/g/functionword.htm