Question: Discuss the rules of word formation.
Or, discuss the major rules of word-formation.
Introduction
Word formation rules are very basic concept of linguistic. This is a process of forming new word. All the languages of the world possess some basic rules or processes for building up new words or phrases too. Let us now know the major word-formation rules or processes of the English language.
Derivation
Derivation is one of the fundamental word formation rules in which affixes attach to the base form or root of the word. Affixes are prefixes, infixes and suffixes. Through this process, the grammatical forms of words are changed such as from noun to verb to adjective to adverb, from verb to verb, from adjective to adjective etc.
Examples:
- Nation – nationalize – national – nationally.
- Appear – disappear.
- Moral – immoral.
Back-formation
Back-formation is another compulsory rule of word-formation. In this procedure, affixes are subtracted to create a new word. This rule is vice versa of derivation.
Examples:
- Donation – donate.
- Obsessive – obsess.
More Notes of Linguistics
Compounding
The process in which two or more independent words are combined to hatch new word is called compounding rule of word generation.
Examples:
- Bed + room = Bedroom
- Note + pad = Notepad
- In + to = Into
- Break + up = Breakup
Blending
In blending process, parts of the words are taken to form new word.
Examples:
Europe + Asia = Eurasia
Biographical + picture = Biopic
Smoke + fog = Smog
Clipping
The method in which words are shortened to coin word is called clipping procedure of word formation. Though the words are shortened in this process, the meaning of the words remain unchanged.
Examples:
Examination – Exam
Advertisement – Ad
Mathematics – Math
Photograph – Photo
Abbreviation
Abbreviation means shortened form of words or phrases. Abbreviated words are basically and widely used for writing but some are used in spoken as well.
Examples:
cm – centimeter
km – kilometer
Dr.- doctor
Mr.- mister
Jr. – junior
Acronym
In acronym process, an abbreviation is formed from the initial letters of several words and pronounced as a word. The difference between abbreviation rule of word formation and acronym rule of word formation is that acronym cannot be written in small letter but abbreviation can be written using small and capital letter.
Examples:
UN – United Nations
WB – World Bank
SAARC – The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
Borrowing
Borrowing is the word formation process in which words of foreign languages become the asset of one language.
Examples:
Algebra – Arabic
Near – Sanskrit
Murder – French
Conclusion
Without knowing the basic rules of word formation, nobody can possess prosperity in both of oral and written communication.
