WORD-BUILDING IN FAITH SPACES: HOW AFFIXES SHAPE MEANING ON ISLAMWEB.NET
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21111/ijelal.v6i1.15253Keywords:
Affix Dynamics, Corpus Linguistics, Morphological Creativity, Online Religious Language, Word-Building PatternsAbstract
Morphological analysis remains a challenging area in linguistic research, especially in distinguishing derivational from inflectional affixes, as their overlapping forms can blur the line between grammatical function and lexical meaning. Despite their vital role in shaping language structure and understanding, studies on affixation in digital religious discourse are limited. This research addresses that gap by analysing derivational and inflectional affixes in selected articles from Islamweb.net to (1) categorise the types of affixes used and (2) examine their role in word formation. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, seven articles published from April to August 2024 were analysed with a content analysis framework, involving identification, classification, tabulation, and description. Results show that inflectional affixes are more prevalent, mainly serving grammatical functions to maintain syntactic cohesion, while derivational affixes contribute to broadening semantic scope and lexical diversity. These findings highlight the dynamic link between form and meaning in online religious language, emphasising the importance of morphological awareness in understanding linguistic patterns in digital discourse. This study offers a novel perspective on morphology by linking word-building processes to belief representation, highlightingthat affixation in religious texts is not merely formal but ideational—serving as a linguistic bridge between grammatical form and spiritual meaning.References
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