Lexicology II - Wordformation
Lexicology II - Wordformation
Lexicology II - Wordformation
Katarína Veselá
2008
Wordformation
1) Derivation
2) Compounding
3) Conversion
4) Quantitative changes
Derivation
______________________________
*‘ize’ is often used in American English (maximize) as
an alternative spelling of ‘ise’ in British English
(maximise).
4 Adverb forming suffixes
a- (apolitical, asexual)
de- (destabilise, declassify)
dis- (disenfranchise, disinvest)
il- (before l: illegal)/ im-(before p,b,m: imperceptible)/
in-(inadequate)/ ir-(before r: irresponsible)
non- (non-economic, non-profit)
un- (unacceptable, undemocratic)
Non-negative prefixes I
expenditure
effortless
Assignment 2
Word Slovak Noun
capable
efficient
proud
ready
wise
Assignment 3
Noun Slovak Verb Adjective
argument
emptiness
intensity
satisfaction
strength
Compounds
Endocentric compounds – the two constituent elements
are clearly the determinant and determinatum (ashtray,
mousetrap, stepladder)
Exocentric compounds – the determinatum is not
expressed (hangover, killjoy, ladybird, forget-me-not)
Rhyme-motivated (harum-scarum)
Pseudo-compounds (mayday, hamburger)
Semiaffixes (chairman, yes-man, kissproof)
Assignment 4
English Slovak
snail mail
shareholder
user-friendly
blackmail (verb!)
junk food
Conversion - zero derivation
to chair
to elbow
a must (conversion!)
the rich
Quantitative Changes
Clipping
Blending
Graphical Abbreviations
Back-formation
Clipping
Clipping (shortening)
The shortening of words consists of the reduction of a word to
one of its parts, as a result of which the new form is used as
an independent lexical unit.
This type of word-formation is in English highly productive.
a. Final clipping – the beginning of the prototype is retained.
E.g. ad, advert < advertisement,
memo < memorandum, lab < laboratory,
gym < gymnasium, vac < vacuum cleaner.
b. Initial clipping – the final part is retained.
E.g. chute < parachute, phone < telephone,
copter < helicopter, plane < aeroplane.
c. The middle is retained. E.g. Liz < Elizabeth ,
flu < influenza, tec < detective.
d. The middle is left. E.g. fancy < fantasy,
bionics < binoculars, maths < mathematics, ag’st < against.
Blending
AD
etc.
e.g.
i.e.
A.M.
(part of a day)