What is affixation?

Affixation is a grammatical process in which prefixes or suffixes are added to a base word to create a new word. Prefixes are added before the base word, while suffixes are added after the base word.

For example, the prefix "un-" can be added to the base word "happy" to create the new word "unhappy," which means not happy. Similarly, the suffix "-ly" can be added to the base word "quick" to create the new word "quickly," which means with speed.

Affixation is an important aspect of word formation in many languages and can create a vast array of new words and meanings. It can also change the grammatical category of a word. For example, adding the suffix "-ness" can change the adjective "kind" into the noun "kindness."

In addition to prefixes and suffixes, other types of affixes include infixes, which are added to the middle of a word, and circumfixes, which are added to both ends of a word. However, these types of affixation are less common.