There is a much less common affix called the infix. As opposed to the prefix and suffix which are attached to the beginning and end of words respectively, infix are placed in the middle. The only languages I know of that use infixs are some Phillipino dialects
That is until Snoop Dogg.
According to an essay called "Introducing English [IZ]-infixation: Snoop Dogg and bey-[IZ]-ond," Snoop Dog introduced the use of infixs into English.
See this examples:
“…The surgeon is Dr. Dr[IZ]e (Dre) / so l[IZ]ay (lay) and pl[IZ]ay (play) / with D O double G[IZ]ee (G) / the fly human being…”
Snoop Doggy Dogg; Tha Shiznit: Doggystyle (1993)
And following his lead, Kanye West sang:
“I drink a Boost for breakfast, a Ensure for dizzert / Somebody order pancakes, I just sip the s[IZ]yrup (syrup) / That right there could drive a sane man bizzerk / Not to worry, Mr. H to the [IZ]O (O)’s back to w[IZ]ork (work)…”
Kanye West; Through the Wire: College Dropout (2004)
Not to be crude, but "people" sometimes say, "un-fucking-believable." And a friend often says, "qu'est-ce que fucking c'est?" I would consider that an infix or at least an example of tmesis.
ReplyDeleteI have to say i'm a little shocked that there is an actual grammar term for this! I'm sure Snoop Dog was fully aware of this when writing his lyrics...ha ha. However, this is just another remind of how vast grammar is, and that most of us have only scratched the surface.
ReplyDeleteWow. I'm mind blown. Completely mind blown. I also had never heard of this side of grammar. I had no clue that there was something called affixation. I feel that I have a lot to learn where grammar is concerned. I think that it is funny that Snoop Dog knew this and placed it in his lyrics. I guess that I shouldn't judge or be shocked.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting -- I have never heard of the term "infix," though I used to to know all of the words to Kanye's "Through the Wire."
ReplyDeleteI think hip hop artists don't get enough credit for the way they are able to play around with language. And though Snoop Dogg is often derided or written off as being a stoner/has-been, look at his career -- he's been around for more than two decades. And now, with that (horrid!) but earwormy song "Wiggle," he's back on the radio...