Productivity Patterns in Morphology: A Comparison of English and Urdu Negative Prefixes attached to Inherited and Borrowed Roots

This study explores formation of negative prefixes in English (L1) and Urdu (L2) and etymology of corresponding root words. It focused on a broad comparison between English and Urdu morphological process of derivation. To accomplish the objectives, the study was alienated into two portions. In the first, part the links between prefix category and word classwere explored whereas part two discovered relation between a particular prefix and origin of root words to which it got attached. The study relied on qualitative method of data collection and analysis. The results revealed very slight links between English negative prefixes and root words’ category and etymology. However, reasonable links of Urdu negative prefixes with part of speech and word origin of root words were found by the study. The study endorsed teaching of Urdu (L1) morphology to English (L2) learners for better comprehension of derivations. It also recommended need of a comprehensive quantitative study to further explore and compare morphological patterns of English (L1) and Urdu (L2), the national language of Pakistan.