Word Formation Process | Study Guide | Morphology and Syntax | Inglés

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Introduction


The process of word formation in the English language is a crucial aspect of understanding and using the language effectively. Unlike Spanish, which has a more straightforward system of word formation, English relies heavily on the creation of new words through various processes such as affixation, compounding, conversion, and blending. The study of word formation is essential for learners of English as a second language because it provides insight into the way new words are created and how existing words are related.


In addition, understanding the different word formation processes in English allows learners to expand their vocabulary, improve their reading comprehension, and communicate more effectively in both written and spoken English. It is also important for professionals in fields such as linguistics, lexicography, and language teaching to have a deep understanding of the mechanisms of word formation in English to analyze language use, develop language resources, and create effective language learning materials.


Word Formation Process


The word formation process refers to how new words are created or formed in a language. These processes can be divided into major and minor word formation processes

The major word formation processes


The English language is constantly evolving, and new words are being created every day. Understanding the major word formation processes can help us analyze and understand how new words are formed. Each of these processes has its own unique features and contributes to the richness and diversity of the English lexicon.


  • Affixation: adding prefixes or suffixes to the base form of a word to create new words.

Example:

  • The prefix "un-" can be added to the base word "happy" to form the new word "unhappy", which means not happy.

  • The suffix "-ness" can be added to the base word "kind" to form the new word "kindness", which means the quality of being kind.

  • The prefix "re-" can be added to the base word "do" to form the new word "redo", which means to do something again.


  • Compounding:  two or more words are combined to form a new word with a new meaning. In English, compounding is a very productive process, used to create many new words.

Examples

  • Bookcase = book + case

  • Blackboard = black + board

  •  Sunflower = sun + flower

  • Laptop = lap + top 


  • Reduplication: is when a word is repeated with a slight change in sound, usually to create a new meaning or emphasis. 

Examples:

  • Bye-bye: a casual way of saying goodbye

  • Chit-chat: small talk or gossip

  • Ding-dong: the sound of a doorbell

  • Flip-flop: sandals or thongs

  • Pitter-patter: the sound of footsteps or raindrops

  • Tick-tock: the sound of a clock

  • Tittle-tattle: gossip or idle talk

  • Wishy-washy: indecisive or vague


  • Suppletion: an entirely different word is used to express a different form or tense of a word, instead of modifying the original word by adding an affix. This process is irregular and does not follow any specific pattern. 

Examples: 

  • The verb "to be". 

    • The present tense of “to be” is "am/are/is"

    • The past tense is “was/were”

    • The past participle is “been”. 

These forms do not follow a regular pattern of adding a suffix or prefix to the base form “be”. Instead, they are completely different words.


The minor word formation processes


Minor word formation processes in English refer to processes that create new words or modify existing words, but they are not as productive or common as major word formation processes. Some examples of minor word formation processes in English include:



  • Blending: is a minor word formation process that involves combining parts of two separate words to create a new word. The new word often has a similar meaning to the original words, but can also take on a unique meaning of its own.

Example:

  • “Brunch”, is a blend of “breakfast” and “lunch”.

  • “Fantabulous” is a combination of “fantastic” and “fabulous” to describe something exceptionally great.

  • “Infomercial” is a combination of “information” and “commercial” to describe a type of advertisement that provides detailed information about a product or service.

  • “Chocoholic” is a combination of “chocolate” and “alcoholic” to describe someone who is addicted to chocolate.

  • “Moped” is a combination of “motor” and “pedal” to describe a small motorcycle that can be pedaled.


  • Acronyms: a word formed from the initial letters of a series of words and pronounced as a single term. It is often used in technical or specialized fields, where they can save time and effort in communication. Besides, they are also common in everyday language, such as ASAP, which is widely used in business and email communication.

Examples

  • NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  • ASAP: As Soon As Possible

  • AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

  • NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

  • FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation

  • UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

  • SWAT: Special Weapons and Tactics

  • OPEC: Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

  • ZIP code: Zone Improvement Plan code


  • Clipping: a part of a longer word is removed to create a new, shorter word. The resulting word often retains the meaning of the original word.

Example

  • Ad: clipped from advertisement

  • Gym: clipped from gymnasium

  • Vet: clipped from veterinarian

  • Phone: clipped from telephone

  • Flu: clipped from influenza

Other word formation processes

Other more general processes are not listed in any of the mentioned categories, which are:


  • Backformation: a new word is created by removing a part of an existing word that is mistakenly believed to be an affix or a morpheme. This process usually happens when speakers perceive a word as having a suffix or prefix, but in reality, the word is actually a whole unit.

Example

  • The word “edit” which was formed by removing the suffix “-or” from the word “editor”. 

  • The word “donate” was formed by removing the suffix “-ion” from the word “donation”.

  • Abbreviations: are shortened forms of words or phrases, and they are commonly used to save time and space. 

Examples

  • “Mr.” for “mister” 

  • “etc.” for “etcetera”

  •  “Dr.” for “doctor”


  • Conversion: a word changes its word class without the addition of an affix. This means that a word can transform from one part of speech to another without any changes to its spelling.

Examples

  • The noun “Google” can also function as a verb, as in “I will Google the answer to that question.” In this sentence, “Google” is being used as a verb instead of a noun, without any change to its spelling or pronunciation. 

  • The adjective “deep” can be converted into a noun, as in “The ocean's depth is awe-inspiring.” In this sentence, “depth” is derived from the adjective “deep” through the process of conversion.


  • Reverse acronyms: also known as backronyms, are words created from an existing acronym by creating a phrase that fits the letters of the acronym.

Examples:

  • NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

    • Reverse Acronym: "Never A Straight Answer"

  • AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

    • Reverse Acronym: "America's Incurable Disease Source"

  • LASER - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

    • Reverse Acronym: "Let's All Support Energy Research"

  • SWAT - Special Weapons and Tactics

    • Reverse Acronym: "Suppressing Wild Ass Theories"

  • ESPN - Entertainment and Sports Programming Network

    • Reverse Acronym: "Endless Stupid Predictions Network"


  • Initialism is a type of abbreviation where each letter of a word represents the first letter of a sequence of words. Unlike acronyms, initialisms are pronounced letter by letter rather than as a word. 

Examples

  • FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)

  • CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)

  • CEO (Chief Executive Officer)

  • DIY (Do It Yourself)


  • Aphetic forms: also known as apheresis, are a type of minor word formation process that involves the removal of an initial sound or syllable from a word to create a new word.  A syllable or sound has been removed from the original word to create a shorter, more concise word.

Examples

  • Bus from omnibus

  • Phone from telephone

  • Gator from alligator

  • Net from internet

  • Tec from detective


  • Coinage: also known as word creation, is a process by which a new word is created without using any of the existing word formation processes in the language. Typically, these words are invented by a specific person or group and are used to describe a new idea or concept.

Examples

  • Google (the company name became a verb to describe the action of searching for something on the internet)

  • Frappuccino (a type of beverage invented by Starbucks)

  • Selfie (a photo taken of oneself)

  • Blog (a website or online diary)

  • Muggle (a term created by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter book series to describe someone who lacks magical abilities)

Conclusions

In conclusion, word formation processes are essential to understand the structure and meaning of words in a language. 


The major and minor word formation processes are widely recognized and play a significant role in English vocabulary expansion. Likewise, the other word formation processes are less frequent but still contribute to the richness and diversity of the language to keep up with the ever-evolving world around us. 


Each process has its unique characteristics and contributes to the creation of new words in different contexts and for various purposes. Overall, a comprehensive understanding of these processes provides insight into how words are formed, used, and adopted in the English language.


By studying these processes, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the richness and complexity of language and better understand how words come to be.

Bibliography


  • Bauer, L. (2018). Affixation. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.013.15


  • Bauer, L. (2018). Compounding. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.013.23


  • Bauer, L. (2018). Backformation. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.013.6


  • Bauer, L. (2018). Reduplication. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.013.27


  • Bauer, L. (2018). Coinage. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.013.11


  • Bauer, L. (2018). Acronyms and Abbreviations. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.013.7


  • Crystal, D. (2006). Language and the Internet (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.


  • Marchand, H. (1969). The Categories and Types of Present-Day English Word-Formation. University of Munich.


  • Plag, I., Kunter, G., & Lappe, S. (2019). Introduction to English Linguistics (3rd ed.). Mouton de Gruyter.


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