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What are the smallest units of meaning in a language?

The smallest units of meaning in a language are called morphemes.

Here's why:

* Words can be broken down: Words are not always the smallest unit of meaning. For example, "unbreakable" has three parts: "un" (not), "break" (the action), and "able" (capable of). Each of these parts contributes meaning to the overall word.

* Morphemes are meaningful: Morphemes are the smallest units that carry a distinct meaning. They can be individual words, like "dog," or parts of words, like the prefixes "un-" or "re-" or the suffixes "-ing" or "-ly."

Here's a simple example:

* "Unbreakable"

* un-: not

* break: to separate

* -able: capable of

Let me know if you'd like to explore more examples or want to know about different types of morphemes!

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