Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Types of word formation. - Coggle Diagram
Types of word formation.
Affixation is the process of forming new words by adding affixes (prefixes or suffixes) to a base or root. This is one of the most common ways of word formation in English.
For example, adding the prefix “un-” to “happy” forms “unhappy,” which changes the meaning to the opposite. Adding the suffix “-er” to “teach” creates “teacher,” which changes the word into a noun referring to a person.
Compounding is the combination of two or more independent words (free morphemes) to form a single word with a new meaning. These words can be written together, separately, or with a hyphen.
For example, “toothbrush” (tooth + brush), “mother-in-law,” and “school bus.” The meaning of the compound is often different from the simple sum of its parts.
- Conversion (Zero Derivation)
Conversion is the process where a word changes its grammatical category without any change in form. This means the word looks the same but functions differently in a sentence.
For example, “to email” (verb) comes from “email” (noun), and “to run” (verb) can become “a run” (noun). This process is very productive in modern English.
Clipping is the shortening of a longer word without changing its meaning or word class. The clipped form becomes a new word in everyday usage.
For example, “ad” from “advertisement,” “lab” from “laboratory,” and “exam” from “examination.” These forms are common in informal language.
Blending is the formation of a new word by combining parts of two different words. Unlike compounding, the original words are shortened before being joined.
For example, “smog” (smoke + fog), “brunch” (breakfast + lunch), and “motel” (motor + hotel). The new word reflects meanings from both original words.
These are formed from the first letters of a group of words. Acronyms are pronounced as a word, while initialisms are pronounced letter by letter.
For example, “NATO” is an acronym, and “BBC” is an initialism. Another example is “NASA,” which is read as a word.
Back-formation is the process of creating a new word by removing a real or supposed affix from an existing word.
For example, “edit” was formed from “editor,” and “burgle” from “burglar.” This process often creates verbs from nouns.
Borrowing happens when a language takes words from another language and uses them as its own. English has borrowed many words due to historical contact with other cultures.
For example, “pizza” from Italian, “ballet” from French, and “kindergarten” from German.
Reduplication involves repeating a whole word or part of it, sometimes with a slight change. It is often used informally or for stylistic effect.
Examples include “bye-bye,” “zig-zag,” and “flip-flop.” These words are common in spoken English.
Coinage refers to the creation of completely new words, often from brand names or inventions.
For example, “Google” became a verb meaning “to search online,” and “Kodak” was originally a brand name. These words enter the language as new vocabulary items.