Word Formation Kwary构词 kwary.pptVIP

English Word Formation Deny A. Kwary Airlanga University Types of Word Formation Compounding Prefixation Suffixation Conversion Clipping Blends Backformation Acronyms Onomatopoeia Eponyms Toponyms 1. Compounding Definition: Two or more words joined together to form a new word. Examples: Home + work ? homework Pick + pocket ? pickpocket The meaning of a compound is not always the sum of the meanings of its parts. Types of compounds: Compound nouns Compound verbs Compound adjectives Compound Nouns Boyfriend, hatchback Cut-throat, breakfast Sunshine, birth control Software, fast food In-crowd, overkill Drop-out, put-on Noun + Noun Verb + Noun Noun + Verb Adjective + Noun Particle + Noun Verb + Particle Compound Verbs Carbon-copy, sky-dive Fine-tune Overbook Bad-mouth Noun + Verb Adjective + Verb Particle + Verb Adjective + Noun Compound Adjectives Capital-intensive Deaf-mute Coffee-table Roll-neck White-collar Before-tax Go-go Noun + Adjective Adjective + Adjective Noun + Noun Verb + Noun Adjective + Noun Particle + Noun Verb-verb 2. Prefixation Class-changing prefixes: a- ? asleep ? V to Adj be- ? bewitch ? N to V en- ? enslave ? N to V Class-maintaining prefixes: in- ? indefinite ? Adj to Adj fore- ? foreman ? N to N Etc. 3. Suffixation Suffixes forming Nouns N from N: -dom ? kingdom N from V: -ee ? employee N from Adj: -ce ? dependence Suffixes forming Verbs V from N: -ify ? beautify V from Adj: -en ? shorten Suffixes forming adjectives Adj from N: -al ? educational Adj from V: -able ? understandable Adj from Adj: -ish ? greenish Suffixes forming Adverbs: -ly, -ward, and –wise. 4. Conversion Definition: Assigning an already existing word to a new syntactic category. Types of Conversion Verb to Noun: to hit ? a hit Adj to N: a final game ? a final N to V: a sign ? to sign Adj to V: an empty box ? to empty 5. Clipping Definition: Shortening a polysyllabic word by deleting one or more syllables Examples: Gasoline ? Gas Hamburger ? Burger delicatessen ? mic