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Lex-forming orthographic modification is the development of an orthographically distinct output allolex with a different pronunciation than the input lex.
Lex-forming orthographic modification is the development of an orthographically distinct output allolex with a different pronunciation than the input lex.
False
The creation of new words can involve only a single process in word formation.
The creation of new words can involve only a single process in word formation.
False
A car-phone is an example of a word formed through a single process of compounding.
A car-phone is an example of a word formed through a single process of compounding.
False
The word 'karaokenight' illustrates a combination of two distinct processes in word formation.
The word 'karaokenight' illustrates a combination of two distinct processes in word formation.
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The term 'infodemic' is an example of a word formed solely through derivation.
The term 'infodemic' is an example of a word formed solely through derivation.
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Covidiots and anti-vax are examples of neologisms.
Covidiots and anti-vax are examples of neologisms.
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The word 'guitarist' is formed through the process of compounding.
The word 'guitarist' is formed through the process of compounding.
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The study of word-formation does not involve analyzing how complex words are created.
The study of word-formation does not involve analyzing how complex words are created.
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Abbreviation is one of the processes involved in word formation.
Abbreviation is one of the processes involved in word formation.
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Words like 'mother-in-law' are examples of back-formation.
Words like 'mother-in-law' are examples of back-formation.
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The examples 'happiness' and 'priceless' illustrate the blending process of word formation.
The examples 'happiness' and 'priceless' illustrate the blending process of word formation.
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The word 'staycation' is formed through the method of blending.
The word 'staycation' is formed through the method of blending.
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In the word 'neighbor', the components 'neigh' and 'bor' can be separated to understand its meaning.
In the word 'neighbor', the components 'neigh' and 'bor' can be separated to understand its meaning.
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Bound morphemes can stand alone in the English language.
Bound morphemes can stand alone in the English language.
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Compounding is the less common process of word formation compared to derivation in English.
Compounding is the less common process of word formation compared to derivation in English.
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Eponyms are new words derived from the names of individuals or locations.
Eponyms are new words derived from the names of individuals or locations.
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The term 'coinage' refers to the creation of entirely new words.
The term 'coinage' refers to the creation of entirely new words.
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The word 'google' has its origins from a misspelling of 'googol'.
The word 'google' has its origins from a misspelling of 'googol'.
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Derivation is the least prevalent method of word formation in English.
Derivation is the least prevalent method of word formation in English.
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Affixes are used solely as stand-alone words in English.
Affixes are used solely as stand-alone words in English.
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The conversion process involves changing a word's function without using any morphological markings.
The conversion process involves changing a word's function without using any morphological markings.
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The examples provided for conversion include shifting from a noun to an adjective.
The examples provided for conversion include shifting from a noun to an adjective.
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Coined terms typically retain their capitalized form in common usage.
Coined terms typically retain their capitalized form in common usage.
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Technical terminology can sometimes have a historical background based on people's names.
Technical terminology can sometimes have a historical background based on people's names.
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All of the processes of word formation discussed are primarily influenced by modern technology.
All of the processes of word formation discussed are primarily influenced by modern technology.
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Zero-morphs are features considered in the study of conversion processes.
Zero-morphs are features considered in the study of conversion processes.
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Compound adjectives can be created using the process of word-formation.
Compound adjectives can be created using the process of word-formation.
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The process known as clipping involves lengthening a word by adding syllables.
The process known as clipping involves lengthening a word by adding syllables.
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Back-clippings retain the front part of a non-clipped word.
Back-clippings retain the front part of a non-clipped word.
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The word 'fax' is an example of a mid-clipping.
The word 'fax' is an example of a mid-clipping.
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Hypocorisms are formed by condensing a lengthy word down to a single syllable and adding the suffix -y or -ie.
Hypocorisms are formed by condensing a lengthy word down to a single syllable and adding the suffix -y or -ie.
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Suppletion creates less formal names by merging two distinct names into one.
Suppletion creates less formal names by merging two distinct names into one.
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Apophony involves changing the meaning of a word entirely.
Apophony involves changing the meaning of a word entirely.
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Words such as croissant and piano have their origins in the English language.
Words such as croissant and piano have their origins in the English language.
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Loan-translation implies a direct translation of the elements of a word into another language.
Loan-translation implies a direct translation of the elements of a word into another language.
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The term 'gadgets' is an example of a fore-clipping.
The term 'gadgets' is an example of a fore-clipping.
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Mid-clippings keep the middle part of a word intact while removing the front and back.
Mid-clippings keep the middle part of a word intact while removing the front and back.
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Indonesian linguists commonly adopt English words without adjusting their spelling.
Indonesian linguists commonly adopt English words without adjusting their spelling.
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The word 'refi' represents a fore-clipping of 'refinancing'.
The word 'refi' represents a fore-clipping of 'refinancing'.
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The term 'shedload' is a result of apophony and derives its meaning from 'shitload'.
The term 'shedload' is a result of apophony and derives its meaning from 'shitload'.
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The word gasohol is a blend of gasoline and alcohol.
The word gasohol is a blend of gasoline and alcohol.
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Acronyms are formed by combining the last letters of multiple words.
Acronyms are formed by combining the last letters of multiple words.
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The term 'smog' is a blend of smoke and fog.
The term 'smog' is a blend of smoke and fog.
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The words 'guess' and 'must' originated as nouns and were converted into verbs.
The words 'guess' and 'must' originated as nouns and were converted into verbs.
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Infotainment and simulcast are examples of acronyms.
Infotainment and simulcast are examples of acronyms.
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The process of compounding is more prevalent in French than in English.
The process of compounding is more prevalent in French than in English.
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The acronym 'ATM' stands for 'automated teller machine'.
The acronym 'ATM' stands for 'automated teller machine'.
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Phrasal verbs can only be transformed into nouns.
Phrasal verbs can only be transformed into nouns.
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The term loan-word itself is believed to have come from the French term Prêt-mot.
The term loan-word itself is believed to have come from the French term Prêt-mot.
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A 'stand-up comedian' is an example of an adjective derived from a verb.
A 'stand-up comedian' is an example of an adjective derived from a verb.
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'Snafu' is derived from 'situation normal, all fucked up'.
'Snafu' is derived from 'situation normal, all fucked up'.
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The English word 'superman' is a calque of the German word Übermensch.
The English word 'superman' is a calque of the German word Übermensch.
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Blending can involve using parts of two different words to create a new term.
Blending can involve using parts of two different words to create a new term.
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Back-formation refers to a process where a verb is modified to create a noun.
Back-formation refers to a process where a verb is modified to create a noun.
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The word 'televise' was created through the process of backformation from the noun 'television'.
The word 'televise' was created through the process of backformation from the noun 'television'.
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Verbs can sometimes lose their meanings when converted into nouns.
Verbs can sometimes lose their meanings when converted into nouns.
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The word 'microwave' is an example of compounding.
The word 'microwave' is an example of compounding.
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Orthographic modification only involves changes in pronunciation without altering the spelling.
Orthographic modification only involves changes in pronunciation without altering the spelling.
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The compound word 'snowball' can be converted into a verb through the process of compounding.
The compound word 'snowball' can be converted into a verb through the process of compounding.
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Nouns like 'butter' and 'chair' have become widely accepted as verbs.
Nouns like 'butter' and 'chair' have become widely accepted as verbs.
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A 'telethon' combines the concepts of television and a fundraising marathon.
A 'telethon' combines the concepts of television and a fundraising marathon.
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The term 'covidiot' combines 'COVID' and 'idiot' through the processes of compounding and borrowing.
The term 'covidiot' combines 'COVID' and 'idiot' through the processes of compounding and borrowing.
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Clipping is a word formation process that involves deleting part of a word to create a shorter form.
Clipping is a word formation process that involves deleting part of a word to create a shorter form.
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Suppletion is the process of deriving new words through a phonological similarity between the old and new forms.
Suppletion is the process of deriving new words through a phonological similarity between the old and new forms.
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The process called blending results in the combination of two separate terms without any reduction.
The process called blending results in the combination of two separate terms without any reduction.
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Noah Webster's first dictionary faced criticism for including 'vulgar' words such as advocate and test as verbs.
Noah Webster's first dictionary faced criticism for including 'vulgar' words such as advocate and test as verbs.
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The word 'emote' is formed from the process of blending the word 'emotion'.
The word 'emote' is formed from the process of blending the word 'emotion'.
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Acronyms are formed by combining the last letters of each word in a phrase.
Acronyms are formed by combining the last letters of each word in a phrase.
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The expression 'moment of truth' has origins from the German phrase 'der Moment der Wahrheit'.
The expression 'moment of truth' has origins from the German phrase 'der Moment der Wahrheit'.
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Study Notes
Word Formation Processes
- Word formation is the study of how new complex words are created using existing words or morphemes.
Key Processes
- Coinage: Creating entirely new words. Often trade names become general terms (e.g., aspirin, nylon, kleenex). "Google" is a well-known example of modern coinage. Eponyms are words derived from people or places (e.g., sandwich, jeans, fahrenheit).
- Derivation: Adding affixes (prefixes and/or suffixes) to a base word to form a new word (e.g., unhappy, misrepresent, joyous).
- Conversion: Changing a word's function without adding or reducing elements (e.g., the noun "bottle" becoming the verb "to bottle"). Categories can shift: noun-to-verb, verb-to-noun, adjective-to-verb, and adjective-to-noun. Meaning can change in some cases (e.g., the negative connotation of the verb "to doctor").
- Blending: Combining parts of two words to form a new word (e.g., gasohol, smog, brunch, motel, telecast).
- Acronyms: Forming a word from the first letters of a phrase (often used as a shorthand) (e.g., NATO, laser, scuba). May be pronounced as letters or as a complete word.
- Compounding: Combining two independent words to make a single word (e.g., bookshelf, wallpaper). Can create compound adjectives & combine adjective + noun structures to form words (e.g., fast-food).
- Clipping: Shortening a word (e.g., "fax" from "facsimile", "gym" from gymnasium). Types include back clipping, fore clipping, mid clipping, which can also create less formal names (e.g., Liz from Elizabeth).
- Suppletion: Creating a new word whose pronunciation or form differs significantly from the word from which it comes. (e g Sasha from Alexander)
- Apophony: Changing a vowel in a word in a particular way creating a new word form. ( e g feck, Merkin)
- Borrowing: Taking words from other languages (e.g., croissant, dope, lilac, piano, zebra). Can be loan translations or calques (e.g., gratte-ciel, skyscraper).
- Back-Formation: Creating a new word from a different grammatical category by removing parts of a word – usually a noun to create a verb (e.g., "television" to "televise"). Often follows a pattern like "worker" to "work."
- Orthographic Modification: Changing the spelling of a word while keeping the pronunciation the same (e.g., "gangster" to "gangsta," or "u" for "you").
- Multiple Processes: Creating new words by using multiple processes (e.g., a word that began with borrowing a word from another language and then clipping it).
General Principles
- Many newly formed words, particularly those from multiple processes, may only exist temporarily. Inclusion in a dictionary is used to estimate the longevity of a word in a language, although this can be disputed.
Additional Notes
- Bound morphemes are attached to free morphemes in derivation; free morphemes are combined to create new words in compounding.
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Description
Explore the various methods of creating new words in the English language through this quiz on word formation processes. Learn about coinage, derivation, conversion, blending, and acronyms, and how they contribute to language development.
