Does adding the suffix “ality” to a noun change its meaning?












0














I thought that -ality was used to turn an adjective into a noun : bestial to beastiality, final to finality.



But I see that some people add it onto the end of nouns : criminal to criminality, position to positionality.



What do you think?










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  • 4




    "Criminal" is also an adjective
    – sumelic
    Oct 5 '17 at 0:27










  • Do you mean like adding "ity" to the military rank of General to produce generality??
    – Gary's Student
    Nov 11 '17 at 1:31










  • Take a closer look at your own examples. You’re not adding -ality to bestial to form bestiality – it would be *bestialality then.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    22 hours ago
















0














I thought that -ality was used to turn an adjective into a noun : bestial to beastiality, final to finality.



But I see that some people add it onto the end of nouns : criminal to criminality, position to positionality.



What do you think?










share|improve this question


















  • 4




    "Criminal" is also an adjective
    – sumelic
    Oct 5 '17 at 0:27










  • Do you mean like adding "ity" to the military rank of General to produce generality??
    – Gary's Student
    Nov 11 '17 at 1:31










  • Take a closer look at your own examples. You’re not adding -ality to bestial to form bestiality – it would be *bestialality then.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    22 hours ago














0












0








0


0





I thought that -ality was used to turn an adjective into a noun : bestial to beastiality, final to finality.



But I see that some people add it onto the end of nouns : criminal to criminality, position to positionality.



What do you think?










share|improve this question













I thought that -ality was used to turn an adjective into a noun : bestial to beastiality, final to finality.



But I see that some people add it onto the end of nouns : criminal to criminality, position to positionality.



What do you think?







nouns suffixes morphology






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Oct 4 '17 at 23:56









Damian Siniakowicz

43




43








  • 4




    "Criminal" is also an adjective
    – sumelic
    Oct 5 '17 at 0:27










  • Do you mean like adding "ity" to the military rank of General to produce generality??
    – Gary's Student
    Nov 11 '17 at 1:31










  • Take a closer look at your own examples. You’re not adding -ality to bestial to form bestiality – it would be *bestialality then.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    22 hours ago














  • 4




    "Criminal" is also an adjective
    – sumelic
    Oct 5 '17 at 0:27










  • Do you mean like adding "ity" to the military rank of General to produce generality??
    – Gary's Student
    Nov 11 '17 at 1:31










  • Take a closer look at your own examples. You’re not adding -ality to bestial to form bestiality – it would be *bestialality then.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    22 hours ago








4




4




"Criminal" is also an adjective
– sumelic
Oct 5 '17 at 0:27




"Criminal" is also an adjective
– sumelic
Oct 5 '17 at 0:27












Do you mean like adding "ity" to the military rank of General to produce generality??
– Gary's Student
Nov 11 '17 at 1:31




Do you mean like adding "ity" to the military rank of General to produce generality??
– Gary's Student
Nov 11 '17 at 1:31












Take a closer look at your own examples. You’re not adding -ality to bestial to form bestiality – it would be *bestialality then.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
22 hours ago




Take a closer look at your own examples. You’re not adding -ality to bestial to form bestiality – it would be *bestialality then.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
22 hours ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















4














There are three parts to the answer:



PART I

We are not adding '-ality', but '-ity'.

Bestial + -ity = Bestiality

Criminal + -ity = Criminality

Final + -ity = Finality

Positional + -ity = Positionality

Functional + -ity = Functionality



PART II

In each of these examples, we are adding -ity to an adjective and turning it into a noun. Criminal can be noun as well as an adjective. For example, "criminal offence", so can be positional, e.g. 'positional reference'.



So your original hypothesis is correct (with slight adjustment to the suffix). We add -ity to the adjectives ending into -al to form a noun.



PART III

As to your question about the change in meaning. The change is that now you are talking about the phoenomenon of the quality. Finality is a state or phenomenon of the quality 'being final'.






share|improve this answer































    0














    I believe that you would call -ity a nominalising suffix or noun suffix, which is one that converts other words into nouns.



    There are many other such suffixes, for example -ing, -ism, and -ness.






    share|improve this answer





























      -5














      When I find "functionality" in the American Heritage Dictionary – one of the last to hold out against allowing incorrect usage to change their definitions – it is defined as "The quality of being functional", which is a long-winded way of saying "functional". The field of computer science loves functionality. Instead of saying, "This application has functionality," one could simply say "This application functions."






      share|improve this answer

















      • 4




        "The quality of being functional" is not "a long-winded way of saying 'functional'". A "quality" is a noun; "functional" is an adjective; "functions" in "This application functions" is a verb. Different parts of speech are used in different contexts.
        – sumelic
        Dec 1 '17 at 20:31






      • 3




        No- If the function of a program is to add numbers, then a more functional program would add numbers more quickly or more accurately, or would add irrational numbers or larger numbers than a less functional program. The functionality of the program describes how functional it is. The function and the functionality are not the same thing.
        – jejorda2
        Dec 1 '17 at 20:32











      Your Answer








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      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      4














      There are three parts to the answer:



      PART I

      We are not adding '-ality', but '-ity'.

      Bestial + -ity = Bestiality

      Criminal + -ity = Criminality

      Final + -ity = Finality

      Positional + -ity = Positionality

      Functional + -ity = Functionality



      PART II

      In each of these examples, we are adding -ity to an adjective and turning it into a noun. Criminal can be noun as well as an adjective. For example, "criminal offence", so can be positional, e.g. 'positional reference'.



      So your original hypothesis is correct (with slight adjustment to the suffix). We add -ity to the adjectives ending into -al to form a noun.



      PART III

      As to your question about the change in meaning. The change is that now you are talking about the phoenomenon of the quality. Finality is a state or phenomenon of the quality 'being final'.






      share|improve this answer




























        4














        There are three parts to the answer:



        PART I

        We are not adding '-ality', but '-ity'.

        Bestial + -ity = Bestiality

        Criminal + -ity = Criminality

        Final + -ity = Finality

        Positional + -ity = Positionality

        Functional + -ity = Functionality



        PART II

        In each of these examples, we are adding -ity to an adjective and turning it into a noun. Criminal can be noun as well as an adjective. For example, "criminal offence", so can be positional, e.g. 'positional reference'.



        So your original hypothesis is correct (with slight adjustment to the suffix). We add -ity to the adjectives ending into -al to form a noun.



        PART III

        As to your question about the change in meaning. The change is that now you are talking about the phoenomenon of the quality. Finality is a state or phenomenon of the quality 'being final'.






        share|improve this answer


























          4












          4








          4






          There are three parts to the answer:



          PART I

          We are not adding '-ality', but '-ity'.

          Bestial + -ity = Bestiality

          Criminal + -ity = Criminality

          Final + -ity = Finality

          Positional + -ity = Positionality

          Functional + -ity = Functionality



          PART II

          In each of these examples, we are adding -ity to an adjective and turning it into a noun. Criminal can be noun as well as an adjective. For example, "criminal offence", so can be positional, e.g. 'positional reference'.



          So your original hypothesis is correct (with slight adjustment to the suffix). We add -ity to the adjectives ending into -al to form a noun.



          PART III

          As to your question about the change in meaning. The change is that now you are talking about the phoenomenon of the quality. Finality is a state or phenomenon of the quality 'being final'.






          share|improve this answer














          There are three parts to the answer:



          PART I

          We are not adding '-ality', but '-ity'.

          Bestial + -ity = Bestiality

          Criminal + -ity = Criminality

          Final + -ity = Finality

          Positional + -ity = Positionality

          Functional + -ity = Functionality



          PART II

          In each of these examples, we are adding -ity to an adjective and turning it into a noun. Criminal can be noun as well as an adjective. For example, "criminal offence", so can be positional, e.g. 'positional reference'.



          So your original hypothesis is correct (with slight adjustment to the suffix). We add -ity to the adjectives ending into -al to form a noun.



          PART III

          As to your question about the change in meaning. The change is that now you are talking about the phoenomenon of the quality. Finality is a state or phenomenon of the quality 'being final'.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 23 hours ago









          MetaEd

          25.3k1371121




          25.3k1371121










          answered Oct 10 '17 at 12:05









          Pranesh

          411




          411

























              0














              I believe that you would call -ity a nominalising suffix or noun suffix, which is one that converts other words into nouns.



              There are many other such suffixes, for example -ing, -ism, and -ness.






              share|improve this answer


























                0














                I believe that you would call -ity a nominalising suffix or noun suffix, which is one that converts other words into nouns.



                There are many other such suffixes, for example -ing, -ism, and -ness.






                share|improve this answer
























                  0












                  0








                  0






                  I believe that you would call -ity a nominalising suffix or noun suffix, which is one that converts other words into nouns.



                  There are many other such suffixes, for example -ing, -ism, and -ness.






                  share|improve this answer












                  I believe that you would call -ity a nominalising suffix or noun suffix, which is one that converts other words into nouns.



                  There are many other such suffixes, for example -ing, -ism, and -ness.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Oct 12 '17 at 0:11









                  jerielsj

                  322




                  322























                      -5














                      When I find "functionality" in the American Heritage Dictionary – one of the last to hold out against allowing incorrect usage to change their definitions – it is defined as "The quality of being functional", which is a long-winded way of saying "functional". The field of computer science loves functionality. Instead of saying, "This application has functionality," one could simply say "This application functions."






                      share|improve this answer

















                      • 4




                        "The quality of being functional" is not "a long-winded way of saying 'functional'". A "quality" is a noun; "functional" is an adjective; "functions" in "This application functions" is a verb. Different parts of speech are used in different contexts.
                        – sumelic
                        Dec 1 '17 at 20:31






                      • 3




                        No- If the function of a program is to add numbers, then a more functional program would add numbers more quickly or more accurately, or would add irrational numbers or larger numbers than a less functional program. The functionality of the program describes how functional it is. The function and the functionality are not the same thing.
                        – jejorda2
                        Dec 1 '17 at 20:32
















                      -5














                      When I find "functionality" in the American Heritage Dictionary – one of the last to hold out against allowing incorrect usage to change their definitions – it is defined as "The quality of being functional", which is a long-winded way of saying "functional". The field of computer science loves functionality. Instead of saying, "This application has functionality," one could simply say "This application functions."






                      share|improve this answer

















                      • 4




                        "The quality of being functional" is not "a long-winded way of saying 'functional'". A "quality" is a noun; "functional" is an adjective; "functions" in "This application functions" is a verb. Different parts of speech are used in different contexts.
                        – sumelic
                        Dec 1 '17 at 20:31






                      • 3




                        No- If the function of a program is to add numbers, then a more functional program would add numbers more quickly or more accurately, or would add irrational numbers or larger numbers than a less functional program. The functionality of the program describes how functional it is. The function and the functionality are not the same thing.
                        – jejorda2
                        Dec 1 '17 at 20:32














                      -5












                      -5








                      -5






                      When I find "functionality" in the American Heritage Dictionary – one of the last to hold out against allowing incorrect usage to change their definitions – it is defined as "The quality of being functional", which is a long-winded way of saying "functional". The field of computer science loves functionality. Instead of saying, "This application has functionality," one could simply say "This application functions."






                      share|improve this answer












                      When I find "functionality" in the American Heritage Dictionary – one of the last to hold out against allowing incorrect usage to change their definitions – it is defined as "The quality of being functional", which is a long-winded way of saying "functional". The field of computer science loves functionality. Instead of saying, "This application has functionality," one could simply say "This application functions."







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Dec 1 '17 at 20:27









                      Lance

                      7




                      7








                      • 4




                        "The quality of being functional" is not "a long-winded way of saying 'functional'". A "quality" is a noun; "functional" is an adjective; "functions" in "This application functions" is a verb. Different parts of speech are used in different contexts.
                        – sumelic
                        Dec 1 '17 at 20:31






                      • 3




                        No- If the function of a program is to add numbers, then a more functional program would add numbers more quickly or more accurately, or would add irrational numbers or larger numbers than a less functional program. The functionality of the program describes how functional it is. The function and the functionality are not the same thing.
                        – jejorda2
                        Dec 1 '17 at 20:32














                      • 4




                        "The quality of being functional" is not "a long-winded way of saying 'functional'". A "quality" is a noun; "functional" is an adjective; "functions" in "This application functions" is a verb. Different parts of speech are used in different contexts.
                        – sumelic
                        Dec 1 '17 at 20:31






                      • 3




                        No- If the function of a program is to add numbers, then a more functional program would add numbers more quickly or more accurately, or would add irrational numbers or larger numbers than a less functional program. The functionality of the program describes how functional it is. The function and the functionality are not the same thing.
                        – jejorda2
                        Dec 1 '17 at 20:32








                      4




                      4




                      "The quality of being functional" is not "a long-winded way of saying 'functional'". A "quality" is a noun; "functional" is an adjective; "functions" in "This application functions" is a verb. Different parts of speech are used in different contexts.
                      – sumelic
                      Dec 1 '17 at 20:31




                      "The quality of being functional" is not "a long-winded way of saying 'functional'". A "quality" is a noun; "functional" is an adjective; "functions" in "This application functions" is a verb. Different parts of speech are used in different contexts.
                      – sumelic
                      Dec 1 '17 at 20:31




                      3




                      3




                      No- If the function of a program is to add numbers, then a more functional program would add numbers more quickly or more accurately, or would add irrational numbers or larger numbers than a less functional program. The functionality of the program describes how functional it is. The function and the functionality are not the same thing.
                      – jejorda2
                      Dec 1 '17 at 20:32




                      No- If the function of a program is to add numbers, then a more functional program would add numbers more quickly or more accurately, or would add irrational numbers or larger numbers than a less functional program. The functionality of the program describes how functional it is. The function and the functionality are not the same thing.
                      – jejorda2
                      Dec 1 '17 at 20:32


















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