The Issue of Affixoids in the Albanian Language

Word formation is one of the main areas of linguistic studies and aids in explaining the processes of word formation in a language. This research examines the status and function of affixoids in the word formation system of the Albanian language, focusing on Murat Isaku’s works The Unfortunates and The Apartment on the Third Floor. In the linguistic literature, these units are treated in various ways: some researchers classify them as true prefixes, while others consider them as parts of compound words. To clarify this issue, this study analyzes the formations with the prefixes krye-, bashkë-, gjysmë-, drejt-, kundër-, and vetë-, comparing them with Albanian language dictionaries and research approaches to word formation. The methods applied in this research include word formation analysis, comparison, and classification, enabling an examination of the process of word formation with prefixes. The analysis highlights the role of these units in constructing new meanings and their productivity in the lexicon of the Albanian language. The results show that, although some researchers classify them as word-forming bases of compound words, the analyzed units function as productive prefixes in the word formation in the Albanian language. The research contributes to reconsidering the criteria for classification of affixoids, helping in the development of a more sustainable model for their analysis in the Albanian language.