Syntax focuses on the structure of sentences, how words are combined to form phrases and clauses, and how these elements are arranged to convey meaning. It deals with rules governing sentence formation, word order, and grammatical relations.
Morphology focuses on the structure of words, how words are built from smaller units called morphemes. It examines the internal structure of words, including prefixes, suffixes, and root words, and how these elements contribute to the meaning and function of words.
Connection: While distinct, syntax and morphology are closely related:
* Morphological information influences syntax: The grammatical categories of words (e.g., noun, verb) determined by morphology affect how they function syntactically.
* Syntax provides context for morphology: The syntactic context in which a word appears can influence its morphological form.
Example:
* Morphology: The word "unbreakable" consists of the morpheme "un-" (prefix) + "break" (root) + "-able" (suffix).
* Syntax: The word "unbreakable" acts as an adjective modifying a noun (e.g., "an unbreakable vase").
Therefore, while they are distinct disciplines, syntax and morphology work together to create meaningful language structures.