This article synthetizes my study of Brazilian Portuguese (BP) prefixes, in light of Prosodic Phonology (PP) and Lexical Phonology (LP). As to the prosodic status, it has been proposed that BP prefixes are separated in two groups: compositional prefixes (CPs) and true prefixes (TPs). The first group behaves like independent phonological words, while the second one plays the role of unstressed syllable affixed to the left side of a base. Regarding the lexical status of prefixes, it has been assumed, based on a two-level lexical proposal (root and word), that CPs behave as independent phonological words until postlexical level, undergoing prefixation process in the level 2. TPs, on the other hand, are lexically attached as pretonic syllables, and they are divided in two classes that affix to a stem, respectively, in the levels 1 and 2.
lexical phonology; prosodic phonology; morphology
