eleutheromaniac

Not that this comes up too often, but I might as well get clarification. What are the rules to adding the prefix 'a' to a word? (As in changing typical to atypical) I know when to use 'un' and 'dis', but when can I use 'a'? I recently called my work 'atraditional'. It's not 'un'traditional, it's the complete opposite of traditional. So is this correct, or can 'a' only be used for certain words?

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Emma LB

I checked all the meanings of a- in my etymological dictionary, but under 13 meanings a- has the one we are looking for isn't there.

So I hope you don't mind mad guesses... cause here's what I think (only think, I may be wrong!)

The a was originally from the Greek, an 'alpha privativum'. So if thanatos is mortal, athanatos is immortal, or theism and atheism. It's the opposite as you already said, but I believe you can only really use it for certain words (those of Greek origin???).

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eleutheromaniac

Your theory seems to check out. I looked up the etymology of all of the words which I know for sure can have 'a' added to them (symmetry, typical, theism) and they are all of Greek origin (latin from greek). Traditional is only of Latin origin.

I guess instead of atraditional, I'll have to settle for 'unconventional' or 'original'. The problem with un- words is that they don't have the authority of a- words (or maybe that's just me?). Athough un- can mean opposite (as with a-) readers ussually interpret it as simply being 'not'. So unconventional isn't interpreted as the opposite of convential, but simply not conventional. Of course, by definition if something is not conventional it is the opposite of conventional, but that's not the affect it will have on the reader. When you use a- there is no doubt in the reader's mind that you mean the COMPLETE opposite. Also, antonyms don't always mean the EXACT opposite. Alas, sometimes the English language fails us.

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Emma LB

Glad I could help.

What about just describing your style with a whole sentence or two, rather than one word? Surely if your style is that unconventional it's worth more than one word ?

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Capulet

you could drop affixs completely and go for something like tradition breaking, or non-traditional, etc

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Emma LB

Ok, here are some much better answers to your question eleutheromaniac:

http://www.textkit.com/greek-latin-f...pic.php?t=2220

it seems you can use atraditional if you really want to .

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eleutheromaniac

"What about just describing your style with a whole sentence or two, rather than one word? Surely if your style is that unconventional it's worth more than one word"

This was more of 'for future reference' question, not really about this particular instance. In my writing I like to pack each word and sentence with as much meaning as possible. So if I can get my message across with one word instead of a series of words, I'd rather do that. And like I said, I find that a- words are more effective than un- words.

Thanks for the help Emma.

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gabriella

Personally, I hate a- words, when used as "without, not" - like amoral. I like using it only for on/in, in the act of, in the direction of, and in a specific state or condition - quoting from the dictionary lol.

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