Which branch of linguistics studies the internal structure of words, including morphemes and affixes?

• A. Morphology
• B. Syntax
• C. Semantics
• D. Phonology

Answer: (A)

Morphology is the branch of linguistics that studies the internal structure of words, including morphemes and affixes. A morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning, and affixes are pieces like prefixes and suffixes that attach to a root to change its meaning or part of speech. For example, in the word “unbelievable,” there are three morphemes: “un-” + “believe” + “-able.” Some morphemes stand alone as words (free morphemes), like “book,” while others must attach to something else (bound morphemes), like the plural “-s” in “books” or the past tense “-ed” in “talked.” Understanding morphology helps ESOL learners see how words are built and how their meaning or grammatical function can change with different affixes.

Other branches focus on different aspects: syntax deals with how words combine into sentences, semantics with meaning, and phonology with sound patterns and pronunciation. In this question, the focus is on how words are formed and decomposed, which is why morphology is the best fit.