Word Formation

Word FormationDeny A. Kwaryhttp://www.kwary.netAirlanga UniversityTypes of Word FormationCompoundingConversionClippingBlendsBackformationAcronymsOnomatopoeiaEponyms1. CompoundingDefinition: Two or more words joined together to form a new word. Examples:Home + work homeworkPick + pocket pickpocketNote: The meaning of a compound is not always the sum of the meanings of its parts. Baby oil cathouse blue-movies blue-chip Coconut oil oil made from coconuts.Olive oil oil made from olives.NOT oil made from babiesoil for babiesa house where men visit prostitutes2. ConversionDefinition: Assigning an already existing word to a new syntactic category.Examples:butter (N) to butter the breadpermit (V) an entry permitempty (A) to empty the litter-bin3. ClippingDefinition: Shortening a polysyllabic word by deleting one or more syllablesExamples:Facsimile faxHamburger burger Gasoline Advertisement Omnibus 4. BlendsDefinition: Similar to compounds, but parts of the words are deleted.Examples:Motor + hotel MotelBreakfast + lunch BrunchWireless + Fidelity Wi-Fi Is this a blend?

Case Study: Blends or CompundsWild-haired revolutionaries like Che Guevara have been replaced by clean-cut metrosexual icons like soccer star David Beckham and musician Ricky Martin. (cbsnews.com, 25th November 2003).No botox for the Retrosexual. No $1,000 haircuts. The retrosexual man eats red meat heartily and at times kills it himself. (The Washington Dispatch, 2nd May 2004).Another recent coinage borne out of the current preoccupation with male stereotyping is the noun and adjective technosexual. (Macmillan Online, January 2005). 5. Back-formationsDefinition: Creative reduction due to incorrect morphological analysis. Examples:editor (1649) edit (1791)television (1907) televise (1927)6. AcronymsDefinition: Words derived from the initials of several words Examples:severe acute respiratory syndrome SARSSelf-contained underwater breathing apparatus SCUBAOther examples of Acronyms:RadarFYITGIFa.k.aHtmlwwwSWOTRadio detecting and rangingFor Your InformationThanks God Its Fridayalso known asHypertext mark-up languageWorld wide webStrengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats7. OnomatopoeiaDefinition: Words created to sound like the thing that they name.EnglishJapaneseTagalogIndonesianCock-a-dooKokekokkoKuk-kakaukKukuruyukMeowNyaNiyawMeong 8. EponymsDefinition: Words derived from proper names or things.Examples:KodakSandwichCelcius Complete the process and Identify the type of word formation:1. Return on Investment2. information, entertainment 3. modulator, demodulator 4. love, seat 5. International, police 6. A comb 7. delicatessen 8. Capt. Charles Cunningham Boycott ROIInfotainment Modem Loveseat Interpol To comb Deli Boycott acronymblendsblendscompoundingblendsconversionclippingeponym