KEY - Worksheet 1 – Linguistics Eng B
The origins of language, animals and human language, and word formation
Answers to Worksheet 1 can be found in Yule (2010) or
are discussed in class. What I provide here are just
answers/information that might facilitate your studying.
Good luck! /Pia
Word formation
5) Test yourself – make the right combinations!
1
2
Concept/Term
etymology
coinage
Key
O
A
A
B
3
neologism
R
C
4
borrowing
G
D
5
compounding
T
E
6
7
8
eponym
blending
clipping
C
D
M
F
G
H
9
calque (/kælk/)
E
I
10
hypocorism
S
J
Definition/Explanation
The invention of new words (e.g. xerox)
A new word formed from the initial letter of other
words (e.g. NASA from National Aeronautics and
Space Administration)
A word derived from the name of a person or place
(e.g. hoover)
The process of combining the beginning of one word
and the end of another word to form a new word (e.g.
brunch from breakfast and lunch)
A.k.a. loan-translation; a type of borrowing in which
each element of a word is translated into the
borrowing language (e.g. superman from German
Übermench; flea market from French marché aux
puces)
The process of forming new words by adding affixes.
The process of taking words from other languages
A process of forming a new word to be similar in
some way to an existing word (e.g. yuppie was made
possible as a new word by analogy with the earlier
word hippie).
A morpheme that is inserted in the middle of a word
(e.g. bloody in Hallebloodylujah!); normally not used
in English but found in some other languages.
A bound morpheme such as un- or –ed added to a
word (e.g. undressed)
11
12
backformation
conversion
L
N
K
L
13
acronym
B
M
14
derivation
F
N
15
16
affix
prefix
J
P
O
P
17
infix
I
Q
18
19
suffix
analogy
Q
H
R
S
20
entomology
K
T
The study of insects (!)
The process of reducing a word such as a noun to a
shorter version and using it as a new word such as a
verb (e.g. babysit from babysitter)
The process of reducing a word of more than one
syllable to a shorter form (e.g. ad from
advertisement).
A.k.a. category change or functional shirt; the process
of changing the function of a word, such as a noun to
a verb, as a way of forming new words (e.g.
microwave in “I am microwaving it for you right now”.
The study of the origin and history of words
A bound morpheme added to the beginning of a word
(e.g. un- in unhappy)
A bound morpheme added to the end of a word (e.g.
–ness in sickness)
A new word
A word-formation process in which a longer word is
reduced to a shorter form with –y or –ie at the end
(e.g. telly from television).
The process of combining two (or more) words to
form a new word (e.g. backpack)