Forming English Words-Combining, Shortening, Blending, Shifting
The English Language is unique in how we are constantly creating new words. This is why "rules" change and new words appear seemingly out of NO WHERE! See below for some examples of ways words are created!
Combining
CompoundingCompounding occurs frequently in the English language. Recent word include words such as the following:
Example: chat + room= chatroom user + name= username (Compounds were found a lot in Germanic Languages.) Check out this site to help students understand prefixing. |
PrefixingPrefixing occurs when two morphemes are connected.
The two morphemes include a bound morpheme to another existing word. Example: reboot= bound morpheme- re plus... existing word- boot Check out this site to help students understand prefixing. |
SuffixingSuffixing is when a bound morpheme is connected to the end of an existing word.
Example: run + ing = running talk + ing = talking look + ing = looking Check out this site to help students understanding suffixing. |
InfixingInfixing is when a word is divided with the insertion of another bound morpheme in the middle, creating a new word.
Example: Awholenother world This one is interesting to students, since it brings a new process into the English language. Change is good and unavoidable--which the English language is always doing. |
Shortening
AlphabetismAlphabetism is when someone takes the first letter of each word and creates a "shortened" form. This "shortened" form of the word sticks to the point that the original words are used rarely or even forgotten.
Example: Universal Resource Locator= URL |
AcronymyWords that began as multiple words, but people now don't even realize the acronym from multiple words.
Example: electronic mail= e-mail |
ClippingA word is "clipped" when it loses a part of its original word. It can be "clipped" from the beginning or the end of the word.
Example: internet ---- net cellular ---- cell |
Blending
Blends occur when two words are joined together, but one of the words is "clipped".
Basically, blending consists of both "clipping and combining". (See above for explanations.)
Example:
smoke + fog = smog
Basically, blending consists of both "clipping and combining". (See above for explanations.)
Example:
smoke + fog = smog
Shifting
Shifting is when a word changes from one part of speech to another.
Example:
"Please send me an email."- (Email was a noun first)
"DJ has started emailing me". (People then began using it as a verb when speaking/writing.)
Example:
"Please send me an email."- (Email was a noun first)
"DJ has started emailing me". (People then began using it as a verb when speaking/writing.)