Word Formation Lesson - Definition, Types Rules & Examples

Lesson Overview

• What Is Word Formation?
• Types of Word Formation
• Word Formation Rules
• Word Formation Exercises

Word formation is like the building blocks of language, where new words are constructed to express fresh ideas, innovations, and cultural shifts. In this lesson, you will learn how words are created through various processes like derivation, compounding, and blending. Understanding word formation enhances your ability to enrich language and communicate more effectively.

What Is Word Formation?

Word formation refers to the process of creating new words or altering existing ones to fit specific grammatical functions. It is an essential aspect of language, allowing speakers to expand their vocabulary, create new expressions, and adapt language to different contexts.

Word formation example:

• From the word joy, we can create joyful or enjoy.

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Types of Word Formation

There are several methods of word formation in the English language. Let's learn about the most common types:

1. Derivation

Derivation involves adding prefixes and suffixes to an existing root word to create a new word with a different meaning. It is one of the most common ways of forming new words in English.

• Prefix: Adding a prefix changes the meaning of the word.
  • Example: Unhappy (un- + happy)
  • Meaning: The word "unhappy" means not happy, showing a negation of the original word.
• Suffix: Adding a suffix changes the word's grammatical category.
  • Example: Happiness (happy + -ness)
  • Meaning: The word "happiness" changes the adjective "happy" into a noun that refers to the state of being happy.
    
    

2. Compounding

Compounding occurs when two or more words are combined to create a new word. These words are typically joined without changing their individual meanings.

• Example: Toothbrush (tooth + brush)
• Meaning: The word "toothbrush" refers to a brush used for cleaning teeth, combining the meanings of both words.
  
  

3. Blending

Blending is the process of combining parts of two or more words to form a new word, often by merging the beginning of one word with the end of another.

• Example: Brunch (breakfast + lunch)
• Meaning: The word "brunch" refers to a meal that combines elements of both breakfast and lunch.
  
  

4. Acronyms and Initialisms

An acronym is formed by taking the initial letters of a series of words to create a new word, while an initialism uses the same principle but the letters are pronounced separately.

• Example (Acronym): NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
• Meaning: NASA refers to the U.S. government agency responsible for space research.
• Example (Initialism): USA (United States of America)
• Meaning: USA refers to the country and is pronounced by stating each letter separately.
  
  

5. Conversion (or Zero Derivation)

Conversion is a process where a word changes its grammatical category without altering its form. This means that the same word can function as a noun, verb, adjective, etc., based on its context.

• Example: Email (noun) to Email (verb)
• Meaning: "Email" was originally a noun, referring to a system for sending messages. Now, it can also be used as a verb, as in "I will email you the report."
  
  

6. Backformation

Backformation is the process of creating a new word by removing an affix (such as a suffix) from an existing word, often changing the grammatical category of the word.

• Example: Edit (from editor)
• Meaning: The word "edit" is derived from "editor" by removing the "-or" suffix. The verb "edit" now means to prepare or modify content.
  
  

7. Clipping

Clipping involves shortening a longer word to create a new, often more casual, word. This is common in everyday spoken language.

• Example: Phone (from "telephone")
• Meaning: "Phone" is a clipped form of "telephone," making it shorter and easier to say.
  
  

8. Coinage

Coinage refers to the creation of completely new words, often for new products, technologies, or ideas. These words are not derived from other words but are invented entirely.

• Example: Kleenex (brand name turned into a common noun)
• Meaning: "Kleenex" was originally a brand name for facial tissues, but it has become a common term for all facial tissues.
  
  

9. Eponyms

Eponyms are words derived from the names of people or places. These new words are often used to describe products, inventions, or concepts named after their creators or places of origin.

• Example: Sandwich (from John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich)
• Meaning: The term "sandwich" comes from the Earl of Sandwich, who is said to have invented the meal by putting meat between slices of bread.
  
  

10. Reduplication

Reduplication involves repeating part or all of a word to create a new form. It's often used to convey emphasis, action, or a rhythmic effect in language.

• Example: Chit-chat (meaning casual conversation)
• Meaning: "Chit-chat" involves the repetition of "chit" to create a fun, informal expression for casual conversation.

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Word Formation Rules

Word formation in English follows a set of rules that govern how words are created from existing ones. These rules are based on patterns and conventions that allow for the development of new words while maintaining the structure of the language.

Rule 1: Adding Affixes (Prefix & Suffix)

Formula: Base Word + Prefix/Suffix = New Word
Example: "Unhappy" (Un- + happy)
Explanation: By adding the prefix "un-" to the adjective "happy," the meaning changes to its opposite, "not happy."

Rule 2: Compound Words

Formula: Word 1 + Word 2 = Compound Word
Example: "Toothpaste" (tooth + paste)
Explanation: The combination of "tooth" and "paste" creates a new word that refers to a substance used for cleaning teeth.

Rule 3: Conversion (Zero Derivation)

Formula: Word (Noun/Verb) → New Word (Verb/Noun)
Example: "Google" (noun → verb)
Explanation: "Google" was originally a noun, but now it's commonly used as a verb meaning "to search on the internet."

Rule 4: Clipping

Formula: Original Word → Shortened Form
Example: "Professor" becomes "Prof"
Explanation: "Professor" is clipped to "Prof" for convenience in casual speech.

Rule 5: Reduplication

Formula: Word/Part of Word + Repetition = New Word
Example: "Flip-flop"
Explanation: The repetition of the word "flip" with "flop" creates a catchy, informal word representing a type of footwear or a situation of reversal.

Rule 6: Borrowing

Formula: Foreign Word → Adopted Word
Example: "Sushi" (from Japanese)
Explanation: The word "sushi" was borrowed from Japanese and is now commonly used in English to describe a type of Japanese food.

Rule 7: Acronyms & Initialisms

Formula: First Letters of a Phrase = Acronym/Initialism
Example: "ATM" (Automated Teller Machine)
Explanation: "ATM" is an initialism where each letter stands for a word in the phrase, and it's pronounced letter by letter.

Rule 8: Coinage

Formula: New Word = Brand Name or Invention
Example: "Xerox"
Explanation: "Xerox" started as a brand name and is now commonly used as a generic term for photocopying.

Rule 9: Blending

Formula: Part of Word 1 + Part of Word 2 = Blended Word
Example: "Brunch" (breakfast + lunch)
Explanation: "Brunch" is a blend of "breakfast" and "lunch," referring to a meal that combines both.

Rule 10: Backformation

Formula: Noun/Adjective → Verb
Example: "Donation" becomes "Donate"
Explanation: The noun "donation" is shortened by removing the suffix "-tion" to create the verb "donate."

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Word Formation Exercises

Here are some word formation exercises with answers provided at the end. You can practice these exercises to improve your understanding of different word formation techniques.

1. Prefix & Suffix Formation:

Add the correct prefix or suffix to the given word to form a new word.

• Happy → __________ (Prefix: un-)
• Legal → __________ (Suffix: -ness)
• Likely → __________ (Suffix: -ly)
• Agree → __________ (Prefix: dis-)
• Possible → __________ (Prefix: im-)

2. Compound Words:

Combine the two given words to form a correct compound word.

• Fire + Works = __________
• Ice + Cream = __________
• Tooth + Brush = __________
• Sun + Flower = __________
• Book + Shelf = __________

3. Conversion (Zero Derivation):

Identify the part of speech of the new word formed after conversion.

• Run → __________ (Part of speech)
• Friend → __________ (Part of speech)
• Drive → __________ (Part of speech)
• Dance → __________ (Part of speech)
• Box → __________ (Part of speech)

4. Clipping:

Provide the full form for the following clipped words.

• Lab → __________
• TV → __________
• Photo → __________
• Gym → __________
• Prof → __________

5. Blending:

Identify the correct blend from the given words.

• Motor + Hotel = __________
• Breakfast + Lunch = __________
• Smoke + Fog = __________
• Spamming + Advertisement = __________
• Humorous + Fabulous = __________

6. Backformation:

Form a new word by removing an affix (suffix or prefix).

• Donation → __________
• Motivation → __________
• Cancellation → __________
• Operation → __________
• Worker → __________

7. Acronyms & Initialisms:

Identify the meaning of the following acronyms and initialisms.

• NASA → __________
• ATM → __________
• NATO → __________
• FBI → __________
• UNESCO → __________

Answer Key:

1. Prefix/Suffix Formation:
   • Unhappy, Happiness, Likely, Disagree, Impossible
2. Compound Words:
   • Fireworks, Ice cream, Toothbrush, Sunflower, Bookshelf
3. Conversion (Zero Derivation):
   • Run (noun), Friend (verb), Drive (noun), Dance (noun), Box (verb)
4. Clipping:
   • Laboratory, Television, Photograph, Gymnasium, Professor
5. Blending:
   • Motel, Brunch, Smog, Spamvertising, FabuloHumorous
6. Backformation:
   • Donate, Motivate, Cancel, Operate, Work
7. Acronyms & Initialisms:
   • National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Automated Teller Machine, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

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