While reading a novel to a group of Grade 5 students, I came across a “new” or unfamiliar word. The class and I began a discussion about the meaning of the word. First, we looked for clues in the surrounding words and decided that there was not enough information to come to an absolute conclusion. So, we began dissecting the word into smaller units of meaning or morphemes. Many students did not know how to break down the word into morphemes, nor did they know the meaning(s) of the smaller units of the word. But through further discussion, students began to focus on smaller units of the word and what those parts might mean. The meaning of the word began to ooze, which allowed students to make an educated conclusion of what new word might mean. This is a form of morphology.
Morphology is the study of word structure. The analysis of words or encoding and decoding of words helps individuals to understand their origin and how the word parts fit together. Word analysis also helps students to learn the meaning(s) of morphemes and how the word parts conclude its meaning. Word analysis also increases student background knowledge, which increases student ability to comprehend written passages. Word analysis also increases student ability to spell and pronounce words. Morphology should be introduced in the primary school years. Morphology should be explicitly taught.
References
Birsh, J.R. (2011). Multisensory teaching of basic language skills.
Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Pub Co.
Moats, L. (2000). Speech to print. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Pub Co.
