Word Formation

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to word formation processes.

Etymology

The study of the origin and history of words, including when they entered a language and how their form and meaning have changed.

Coinage (Neologism)

The invention of totally new terms, often from commercial products that become general terms.

Borrowing

The process of taking words from other languages, where English does not give them back.

Compounding

Forming new words by combining or putting together old words, producing a new meaning.

Blending

Combining parts of two separate forms to produce a single new term.

Clipping

Shortening a word by deleting one or more syllables.

Backformation

Reducing a word of one type to form a word of another type, typically from noun to verb.

Conversion

Changing the function of a word, such as from a noun to a verb, without any reduction.

Acronym

A word formed from the initial letters of other words.

Derivation

The process of forming new words by adding affixes such as prefixes, suffixes, or infixes.

Loan translation (Calque)

When the meaning or idiom is borrowed rather than the actual lexical item.

Eponyms

New words derived from the name of a person or a place.

Hypocorism

A particular type of reduction that produces forms by shortening a longer word and adding -y or -ie.