Lexical change

Question 1

Borrowing

Answer 1

a word from a foreign language becomes part of the English language e.g karaoke from Japanese

Question 2

Compounding

Answer 2

two or more existing words that are stuck together e.g takeover, bittersweet, girlfriend, crybaby

Question 3

Blending

Answer 3

Two or more existing words are merged e.g ginormous, brunch, motel

Question 4

Derivation

Answer 4

a word (acronym) is formed from the initial letters of other words e.g laser (light amplification by simulated emission of radiation)

Question 5

Abbreviation

Answer 5

a word is shortened e.g bike, flu, celeb, maths

Question 6

Root creating

Answer 6

words made up entirely (often for phonological effect) e.g blurb, nerd, dork

Question 7

Conversion

Answer 7

a word transfers from one word class to another e.g a hammer, to hammer

Question 8

Backformation

Answer 8

new words made by removing affixes from old one e.g editor was adapted to, to edit

Question 9

Eponym

Answer 9

created from a person’s name e.g. leotard from the acrobat Jules Leotard

Question 10

Nonces

Answer 10

temporary words that never properly enter the language

Question 11

Jonathon Swift

Answer 11

in 1712, he published a ‘proposal for correcting, improving and ascertaining the English tongue’ in attempt to ‘fix’