WORD FORMATION STUDY GUIDE
Morpheme, Affixation, Derivation, Compounding, Clipping, Back Formation, Blending, Initialism, Acronymy, Conversion, Coinage
1. MORPHEME
Definition:
A morpheme is the smallest unit of language that has meaning or a grammatical function.
Examples:
- cat = 1 morpheme
- cats = 2 morphemes: cat + -s
- unhappy = 2 morphemes: un- + happy
- unhappiness = 3 morphemes: un- + happy + -ness
Key idea:
Morpheme = smallest meaningful unit.
2. AFFIXATION
Definition:
Affixation is the process of adding an affix to a base or root word to create a new word or change its grammatical form.
Common types:
- Prefix: added to the beginning (un + happy = unhappy)
- Suffix: added to the end (teach + er = teacher)
Examples:
- re + write = rewrite
- kind + ness = kindness
- dis + agree = disagree
Key idea:
Affixation = adding a prefix or suffix.
3. DERIVATION
Definition:
Derivation is the process of forming a new word by adding an affix to an existing word or root. It often changes the word's meaning or word class.
Examples:
- happy → unhappy
- teach → teacher
- care → careless
- nation → national
Key idea:
Derivation = creating a new word through affixation.
4. COMPOUNDING
Definition:
Compounding is the process of combining two or more complete words to form a new word.
Examples:
- toothbrush = tooth + brush
- sunflower = sun + flower
- notebook = note + book
- bedroom = bed + room
Key idea:
Compounding = word + word.
5. CLIPPING
Definition:
Clipping is the process of shortening a longer word while keeping its original meaning.
Examples:
- advertisement → ad
- examination → exam
- laboratory → lab
- telephone → phone
- refrigerator → fridge
Key idea:
Clipping = shortening a word.
6. BACK FORMATION
Definition:
Back formation is the process of creating a new word by removing a part of an existing word, often making a shorter word from a longer one.
Examples:
- editor → edit
- babysitter → babysit
- television → televise
- donation → donate
Key idea:
Back formation = removing a part to create a new word.
7. BLENDING
Definition:
Blending is the process of combining parts of two or more words to form a new word.
Examples:
- breakfast + lunch → brunch
- smoke + fog → smog
- motor + hotel → motel
- information + entertainment → infotainment
Key idea:
Blending = parts of words + parts of words.
8. INITIALISM
Definition:
An initialism is an abbreviation formed from the first letters of words, with each letter pronounced separately.
Examples:
- FBI = Federal Bureau of Investigation
- USA = United States of America
- ATM = Automated Teller Machine
- CEO = Chief Executive Officer
Key idea:
Initialism = first letters, pronounced one by one.
9. ACRONYMY
Definition:
Acronymy is the process of forming a word from the initial letters or parts of a phrase, where the resulting form is pronounced as a word.
Examples:
- NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- UNESCO = United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
- RADAR = Radio Detection and Ranging
- SCUBA = Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
Key idea:
Acronym = initials pronounced as one word.
10. CONVERSION
Definition:
Conversion is the process of changing a word from one grammatical category to another without changing its form.
Examples:
- email (noun) → email (verb)
- Google (noun) → google (verb)
- text (noun) → text (verb)
- water (noun) → water (verb)
Key idea:
Conversion = same word form, different grammatical function.
11. COINAGE
Definition:
Coinage is the creation of a completely new word, often because of a new product, brand, technology, or idea.
Examples:
- Xerox
- Kodak
- Velcro
Key idea:
Coinage = creating a new word.
QUICK REVIEW
Morpheme = smallest meaningful unit
Affixation = adding an affix
Derivation = creating a new word with an affix
Compounding = combining complete words
Clipping = shortening a word
Back formation = removing part to create a new word
Blending = combining parts of words
Initialism = initials pronounced separately
Acronymy = initials pronounced as a word
Conversion = changing word class without changing form
Coinage = creating a new word
IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS
- Clipping vs Back Formation:
Clipping shortens a word without creating a fundamentally new word class or word meaning.
Back formation removes a perceived affix or ending to create a new word, often changing the word class.
- Initialism vs Acronym:
Initialism: FBI → "F-B-I"
Acronym: NASA → "NASA"
- Compounding vs Blending:
Compounding combines complete words: tooth + brush = toothbrush.
Blending combines parts of words: smoke + fog = smog.
- Affixation vs Derivation:
Affixation is the process of adding an affix.
Derivation uses affixation to create a new word, often with a different meaning or word class.