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Word Formation Processes

This document discusses various word formation processes in English including: 1. Coinage - Invention of totally new words like Kleenex and Xerox which became eponyms. 2. Borrowing - Taking words from other languages like leak from Dutch and barbecue from Spanish. 3. Compounding - Joining words together like homework and pickpocket. The meaning is not always the sum of parts like baby oil. 4. Blending - Similar to compounding but combining partial words like motel from motor and hotel.

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Bruce Kpeglo
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53 views

Word Formation Processes

This document discusses various word formation processes in English including: 1. Coinage - Invention of totally new words like Kleenex and Xerox which became eponyms. 2. Borrowing - Taking words from other languages like leak from Dutch and barbecue from Spanish. 3. Compounding - Joining words together like homework and pickpocket. The meaning is not always the sum of parts like baby oil. 4. Blending - Similar to compounding but combining partial words like motel from motor and hotel.

Uploaded by

Bruce Kpeglo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Word Formation Processes

Chapter 6

Introduction
Spangler and his electric suction sweeper
Spangler-spanglering–spanglered–
spanglerish–spanglarism
That didn’t happen, but people still talk
about ‘hoovering’
Neologism a new word, usage, or
expression

Etymology
The study of the origin of the word Etymology
comes from Latin but has Greek roots
(etymon‘original from’ + logia‘study of’) Attitude
towards new words entering a language
Handbook– aviationin the 19th century
Computerand radioin Arabic
Ways in which a word can enter a language.

1
Types of Word Formation
1. Coinage
2. Borrowing
3. Compounding
4. Blending
5. Clipping
6. Backformation
7. Conversion
8. Acronyms
9. Derivation

Coinage
Invention of totally new words
Extension of a name of a product from
a specific reference to a more general one

2
e.g. Kleenex, Xerox, and Kodak Eponyms:
words based on a name of a person or a
place. E.g. sandwich, jeans, watt

Borrowing
Taking over of words from another language
English borrowed a lot of Latin and French words
Leak(Dutch) Barbecue(Spanish)
Piano(Italian) Sofa(Arabic)
Croissant(French) Yogurt(Turkish)
Arabic also borrowed a lot of words from English, e.g.
television, radio, supermarket
Loan-translation or calque
A phrase that is introduced into a language through
translation
Superman ‫ا ا‬ ‫رق‬
Skyscraper ‫ب‬

Compounding
Two or more words joined together to form a
new word.
Examples:
Home + work homework (N) Pick +
pocket pickpocket (N)
Low + paid low-paid (Adj)

3
Note: The meaning of a compound is not
always the sum of the meanings of its parts.

Coconut oil oil made from coconuts. Olive


oil oil made from olives.
Baby oil oil for babiesNOT oil made from babies

Blending
Similar to compounds, but in blending
only partsof the words are combined.
Examples:
Motor + hotel Motel
Breakfast + lunch Brunch
Smoke + fog smog
Teleprinter + exchange telex

4
Backformation
Creative reductiondue to incorrect morphological
analysis.
Examples: editor
edit television

5
televise babysitter
babysit

Note: backformation always involve reduction


(changing the form of the word)

Acronyms
Words derived from the initials of several words
Examples:
National Aeronautics and Space Agency NASA
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund UNICEF
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization UNESCO

6
Compact Disc CD

Other examples of Acronyms:


a) Radar a) Radio detecting and ranging
b) FYI b) For Your Information
c) TGIF c) Thanks God It’s Friday
d) a.k.a d) also known as
e) Html e) Hypertext mark-up language
f) www f) World wide web
g) btw g) By the way
h) ATM h) Automatic Teller Machine
i) FAQ i) Frequently asked questions

Derivation
The most common word formation process.
affixes
Examples:
Happy unhappy, happiness
Arrange rearrange
Prefixes vs. suffixes
Infixes inside the word
Tell them I’ve gone to Singabloodypore!

7
Multiple Processes
The creation of a particular word

involves more than one process.


Example: Problems with the project
have snowballed

Snow + ball compound


Snowball (N) (V) conversion

Multiple Processes
Identify the processes involved in the
creation of the following forms.
I just got a new car-phone
James wants to be a footballer
The negotiators blueprinteda new peace
proposal

8
Complete the process and

Identify the type of word formation:

1. automatic Auto clipping


2. information, entertainment Infotainment blends
3. modulator, demodulator Modem blends
4. love, seat Loveseat compounding
5. International, police Interpol blends
6. A comb To comb conversion
7. delicatessen Deli clipping
8. Capt. Charles Cunningham Boycott Boycott eponym
See you next class ☺ Read
Chapter 7

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