Neologisms and Word Formation

Question 1

Coinage/Neologism

Answer 1

The deliberate creation of a new word. Examples being widget, hobbit and spoof.

Question 2

Borrowing / loan words

Answer 2

Borrowing of words/concepts from other languages. They can be ‘anglicised’ or they can be same. Examples being ‘bungalow, hamburger, saga’

Question 3

Compounding

Answer 3

Words combined together to form new words. Can be open, hyphenated or solid. Examples ‘user-friendly, long winded and handheld’

Question 4

Clipping

Answer 4

Words are shortened and the shortened form becomes norm. Examples being ‘gym, bus, deli, phone’

Question 5

Blending

Answer 5

Combining clipping and compounding: Words are abbreviated and joined together to form a new word. (newscast news + broadcast, internet, international + network)

Question 6

Acronym

Answer 6

First letters are taken from a series of words to create a new term. It is pronounced all together. Examples: ‘AIDS, NATO’

Question 7

Initialism

Answer 7

Acronym but each letter is pronounced: Examples ‘HIV, CD, MP3, PC, OMG’

Question 8

Affixation

Answer 8

One or more free morphemes are combined with one or more bound morphemes (Examples: Disinterest regift, marketeer)

Question 9

Conversion/Functional shift

Answer 9

A word shifts from one word class to another: usually from a noun to a verb. Examples: Text, Network Google.

Question 10

Eponym

Answer 10

Names of a person or company used to define particular objects. Often inventors or distributors of the object. (Examples: Sandwich, Boycott, Silhouette)

Question 11

Back formation

Answer 11

Verb created from an existing noun by removing a suffix: Examples (surveillance - to surveil, locatation - to locate- ?)