Productive and non-productive affixes in the english language

Lexicology studies the recurrent patterns of semantic relationships and of any formal phonological, morphological or contextual means which may render its aims at systematization. It has been claimed by different authors that in contrast to grammar the vocabulary of a language is not systematic but chaotic. In the light of recent investigations in linguistic theory, however, we are now in a position to bring some order into this “chaos”. We call vocabulary systematic because the sum total of all the words in it may be considered set of interdependent and interrelated elements. The term “System” as applied to vocabulary should not be taken rigidly. The vocabulary system cannot be completely and exactly characterized by deterministic functions; that is for the present state of science it is not possible to specify system’s entire future by its status some one instant of its operation. The theoretical value of lexicology becomes obvious if we realize that it forms the study of one of three main aspects of language, i.e. its vocabulary, the other two being its grammar and sound system1.