Theory Flashcards
- Name the secondary word-formation processes.
- Shortening (to modify-> mod)
- Blending (emotion+icon=emoticon)
- Backformation (editor->edit)
- Reduplication (tip-top, chit-chat)
- Name the marginal word-formation processes.
- Sound interchange (blood->bleed)
- Eponymy (quillotine, wellingtons)
- Shift of stress (present, to present)
- Sound symbolism (teeny-weeny)
- Word manufacture (Polaroid)
- What does it mean when we say that a word-formation process is productive?
How productive a w-f process is depends on how many new lexemes can be formed by it.
- What is affixation?
Affixation is a productive word-formation process in which new lexemes are produced by adding affixes to at least one root lexeme. (prefixaton, suffixation)
- Give some noun-forming suffixes.
-tion, -ity, -er, -ness, -ism, -ment, -ant, -ship, -age, -ery
- Give some verb-forming suffixes.
-ate, -en, -ify, -ise/-ize
- Give some adverb-forming suffixes.
-ly, -ily, -ally, -wise, -wards
- Give some negative prefixes.
un-, im-, in-, il-, ir-, dis-, non-, mis-, de-
- Give some diminutive suffixes.
-y/-ie, -ock, - ette, -let, -ling, -o
- What is compounding?
Compounding is a process of creating new words by combining at least two root morphemes (household, highlight).
- According to their structure, compounds can be divided into:
1.Simple (sunlight= sun+light)
2. Complex (backbencher= back+bench+er)
- According to the relationship between their components, compounds can be divided into:
- Coordinative/Copulative (deaf-mute)
- Subordinative (blue-eyed)
- According to the word-formation processes involved, compounds can be divided into:
- Mono-formative
- Poly-formative
- Explain why some compounds are called literal. Give some examples.
The meaning of the morphemes is compositional (can be interpreted literally).
ex.= classroom, sunlight, deaf-mute
- Explain why some compounds are called metaphorical. Give some examples.
They cannot be interpreted literally.
ex.= chatterbox, pickpocket, nightcap, pick-up (n)
- Give one example of a compound adjective, compound verb, and a compound adverb.
compound adjective- deaf-mute, blue-eyed
compound verb- double-click, outrun
compound adverb- thereafter, sometimes
- What is conversion?
Conversion a very productive w-f process in which a word is converted into a different word-class without adding any affix. (same spelling, same pronunciation)
(bottle- to bottle)
- What is indirect conversion? Give an
example.
A type of conversion where a noun is not converted to a verb, but it is pre-modified by verbs such as have, get, take, make, give (ex. take a shower, have a smoke)
- The process of shortening can be divided
into these types:
Clipping
Acronymy
Initialisms
Graphical Abbreviation
- Clipping can be defined as …
… a w-f process that involves cutting off one or more letters or syllables of a word.