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Introduction To Word Formation

Word formation is the process of creating new words or modifying existing ones in a language, which can occur through various methods such as derivation, compounding, and borrowing. Key types include derivation (adding affixes), inflection (grammatical changes), compounding (combining words), and others like blending, clipping, and back-formation. Additionally, new words can be coined or borrowed from other languages, showcasing the dynamic nature of language development.

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21 views4 pages

Introduction To Word Formation

Word formation is the process of creating new words or modifying existing ones in a language, which can occur through various methods such as derivation, compounding, and borrowing. Key types include derivation (adding affixes), inflection (grammatical changes), compounding (combining words), and others like blending, clipping, and back-formation. Additionally, new words can be coined or borrowed from other languages, showcasing the dynamic nature of language development.

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momina khan
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Introduction to Word Formation

Definition:
Word formation is the process by which new words are created or existing words are modified in a
language.

Words can be created:


From other words (e.g., happiness from happy)
By combining words (e.g., blackboard)
Or even borrowed from other languages (e.g., kindergarten from German)

II. Types of Word Formation


1. Derivation
Definition: Adding affixes (prefixes or suffixes) to a root to create a new word.

Prefix: added at the beginning (*un-*happy, *dis-*agree)

Suffix: added at the end (hope-ful, read-er)

Examples:

Nation → national, nationalize, international

Help → helpless, helpful, unhelpful

2. Inflection

Definition: Changes a word to express grammatical features (tense, number, aspect) without altering its
core meaning or class.

📝 Examples:

Walk → walks, walked, walking

Child → children

3. Compounding

Definition: Combining two (or more) independent words into a single unit.

Examples:

Tooth + brush = toothbrush


Black + board = blackboard

Types:

Closed form: notebook

Hyphenated form: mother-in-law

Open form: ice cream

4. Conversion (Zero Derivation)

Definition: Changing the word class without changing the word's form.

📝 Examples:

Google (noun) → to google (verb)

Text (noun) → to text (verb)

Clean (adj.) → to clean (verb)

5. Blending

Definition: Merging parts of two words to make a new one.

Examples:

Smoke + fog = smog

Breakfast + lunch = brunch

Motor + hotel = motel

6. Clipping

Definition: Shortening a longer word by cutting off parts of it.

Examples:

Advertisement → ad

Telephone → phone

Mathematics → math

Types:

Back clipping: refrigerator → fridge


Fore clipping: helicopter → copter

Middle clipping: influenza → flu

7. Acronyms and Initialisms

Definition: Forming a word from the first letters of a phrase.

Acronym: Pronounced as a word (NASA, UNICEF)

Initialism: Each letter pronounced (FBI, BBC)

📝 Examples:

Scuba = Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus

ATM = Automated Teller Machine

8. Back-formation

Definition: Removing a supposed affix to create a new word.

📝 Examples:

Editor → edit

Television → televise

Donation → donate

Note: Often driven by analogy or misunderstanding of word structure.

9. Borrowing

Definition: Adopting words from other languages.

Examples:

Pizza (Italian)

Alcohol (Arabic)

Ketchup (Chinese via Malay)

10. Coinage (Neologism)


Definition: Inventing a completely new word.

📝 Examples:

Kodak (brand name)

Google (originally a brand, now a verb)

11. Reduplication (less common in English)

Definition: Repetition of sounds/words for effect or meaning.

📝 Examples:

tick-tock, wishy-washy, boo-boo

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