Study of Nature of Free Morphemes Operations

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the nature of English lexical and functional morphemes and the ways they are used. It also uses evidences from phonology, syntax and semantics to simplify and correct the errors made by English foreign learners in using them. The study derives its significance from studying errors that second language learners make during the process of acquisition. Therefore, this study identifies and analyzes the errors that are committed by first year English students when they use them. This study also tries to explain the reasons for the occurrence of these errors and how to overcome them. This research is a descriptive one and the method of data collection is through a questionnaire that distributed to English language university teachers. The questionnaires are valid and reliable and have been tested by two expert English teachers at university level. The findings of this study show that most of English second language learners students errors in using lexical and functional morphemes are due to first language interference, and inadequate knowledge of students in relation to lexical and functional morphemes. According to the findings, the university students also have some problems in using lexical and functional morphemes and their categories.