How are

New Words
Formed?
Ms. Jackie Andalecio
Explore/Identify some
processes of creating
new words in a language
Practice the formation
of words
Appreciate the origins
of a word (etymology)
 Word
Formation
refers to the
creation of new
words in English
 1
Taking over words
from other languages.
New words are called
loanwords.
Word Formation Processes
1. Borrowing
Chinese ketchup, dim sum
Italian spaghetti, opera
Japanese sushi, tsunami
French coup d'etat, mayonnaise
The invention of a 2
totally new term is
called coinage.
Sources: trade
names for commercial
products or eponyms.
Word Formation Processes
2. Invention
Example:

xerox
2. Invention
Example:

sandwich
 3
Joining of two
separate words
to produce a
single word.
Word Formation Processes
Can be written in 3
three (3) different
ways: open,
hyphenated,
and solid.
Word Formation Processes
3. Compounding
Examples:

flower pot
brother-in-law
bookworm
 4
The reduction
of a word to one
of its parts.
A.k.a. shortenings
Word Formation Processes
4. Clipping
BACK advertisement =
CLIPPING ad
4. Clipping
FORE- telephone =
CLIPPING phone
4. Clipping
MIDDLE influenza =
CLIPPING flu
4. Clipping
COMPLEX situation comedy
CLIPPING = sitcom
Similar to clipping, 5
new word is formed
by reducing some
syllable so that the
new word is shorter,
but there is a change
in part of speech. Word Formation Processes
5. Backformation
television (n) televise (v)
babysitter (n) babysit (v)
donation (n) donate (v)
By converting, 6
we mean changing
the function of a
word without
changing its
form. Word Formation Processes
6. Conversion
Original word - noun New word - verb

Can you buy me a drink? Don't drink that!

We had a long talk. They like to talk for hours.

A new word is 7
formed from the
initial letters of
the constituent Y
words of a phrase
or a sentence. Word Formation Processes
7. Acronymy
Categories of Acronymy

1. Acronyms which are pronounced

as a word
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA
7. Acronymy
Categories of Acronymy

2. Acronyms which are pronounced

as sequences of letters
Cash On Delivery
COD
7. Acronymy
Categories of Acronymy

3. Acronyms which are pronounced

as a word, containing non-initial
letters
Alpha-methyl-phenethylamine
Amphetamine
7. Acronymy
Categories of Acronymy

4. Acronyms with shortcut

incorporated into name
World Wide Web Consortium
W3C
Involves taking two or
more words, removing
8
parts of each and
joining the residues
together to create a
new word whose
meaning is taken from
the source words. Word Formation Processes
8. Blending
Formation of Blendings
1. The beginning of one word is added to
the end of the other
breakfast and lunch
brunch
8. Blending
Formation of Blendings
2. The beginnings of two words are
combined
cybernetic and organism
cyborg
8. Blending
Formation of Blendings
3. One complete word is combined with
part of another word
guess and estimate
guesstimate
8. Blending
Formation of Blendings
4. Two words are blended around a
common sequence of sounds
California and fornication (from a
song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Californication
A.k.a. affixation 9
New words are
created by adding
affixes (prefix,
infix, suffix) to an
existing word. Word Formation Processes
9. Derivation
dislike
like
likeness
The 10
formation of
a new word
by doubling a
word.
Word Formation Processes
10. Reduplication
change of initial sounds walkie-talkie

change of vowel chit-chat

without change so-so

11. Multiple Processes
A word can be created
through more than one of
the above-mentioned
processes.