How do morphemes contribute to language?

Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning in a language, and they play a crucial role in the formation of words. When morphemes combine, they can create new words or modify existing ones. For instance, the root morpheme "book" can be changed by adding different prefixes or suffixes, such as "booklet," "bookmark," or "bookshelf." Each addition alters the meaning or function of the original morpheme, allowing for a rich variety of vocabulary.

Understanding morphemes helps in recognizing how words are built, which is essential for language development and comprehension. This foundational aspect of language forms the basis of more complex linguistic structures, such as sentences, which involve larger grammatical units.