Determining Word Origins

How do you form new words?

Words can originate from and be formed through

compounding, clipping, blending, acronym, and folk

or popular etymology.

Etymology

- the study of the history and origins of words

1. Clipping-cutting off the beginning or the

end of the wordExamples:(tele)phone - phonephoto(graph) - photorom(antic) com(edy) -romcom

Exercises:

flu

(in)flu(enza) - flu

pop

pop(ular music) - pop

gym

gym(nasium) - gym

ad

ad(vertisement) - ad

sci-fi

sci(ence) fi(ction) - sci-fi

2. Blending

- combining two words together to form a word

-usually, the first part of the word is fused with the last part of another

Examples:motor + hotel = motelmotor - a machine that produces motion

or power for doing workhotel - a place that provides lodgingmotel - motorist's hotel

-a hotel provided ample parking

turn + whirl = twirl

turn - to move around a central pointwhirl - to move in a circletwirl - to turn or spin something around and around quickly

smoke + fog = smogsmoke - the cloud of black, gray, or white gases

fog - many small drops of water floating in the air

smog - fog mixed with smoke

Exercises:

advertainment

advertisement + entertainment = advertainment

biopic

biographical + picture = biopic

brunch

breakfast + lunch = brunch

hazmat

hazardous + material = hazmat

simulcast

simultaneous + broadcast = simulcast

3. Compounding-combining two to three words to form a full form

-their meaning is either different from its parts or either the combined meaning of the two words

Examples:self + service = self-servicehappy + go + lucky = happy-go-

luckyback + slider =backslider (the

person who starts doing something again after he stopped it)

sun + glasses = sunglassesnote + book = notebookbreast + feed = breastfeedblue + berry =blueberry

4. Acronym

- forming words through the initial letter or syllables of several words in succession

Examples:

Light Rail Transit -LRTUniversal Serial Bus -USBAs Soon As Possible -ASAPPersonal Identification Number

-PIN

5. Folk or Popular Etymology

-changing the word partially or completely to make a more familiar word

-the meaning of the word changed as time passed by

Examples:a. belfry-derived from the Teutonic

word "berafrid" which means a shed to shelter cattle and carts. Later on, it was used to mean a movable tower used in attacking fortifications.

b. cockroach

-borrowed from the Spanish word for the insect "cucaracha"

c. penthouse-borrowed from Anglo-Norman "pentiz" which means attached building. Now, it is used to mean an apartment on the top floor or roof of a building

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