Word Formation Processes of English
1.Borrowing(外来词)
---One of the most common sources of new words in English, that is, the taking over of words from other languages.
Eg: alcohol(Arabic) boss(Dutch) piano(Italian) Tycoon(Japanese) yogurt(Turkish) Kunfu(Chinese) pounding(合成词)
---This is a very productive source of new terms. A joining of two separate words can produce a single form.
Eg: bookcase fingerprint sunburn wallpaper waterbed classmate wastebasket
3.Blending(混成词)
---The beginning of one word is joined to the end of another word. The is the way how a Blending formed.
Eg: Chinese + English=Chinglish（中国式英语）
Spanish + English = Spanglish(西班牙式英语)
smoke + fog = smog(烟雾)
breakfast + lunch = brunch(早午餐)
Climb + maximum= climax(高潮)
television + broadcast= telecast（电视广播）
Motor + hotel= motel(汽车旅馆)
information + entertainment= infotainment(信息娱乐)
4.Clipping(缩略词)
---Clipping comes from the element of reduction, which is also a commonly used way of new forms in English.
Eg: ad(advertisement) phone(telephone) bra(brassiere)
Sue(Susan) Mike(Michael) Ed(Edward)
Math(mathematics) gym(gymnasium) exam(examination)
5.Acronyms(首字母缩略词)
---acronyms are formed from the initial letters of a set of other words.
Eg: ABC---American Broadcasting Company
MBA---Master of Business Administration (for fun: Married But Available )
PIN----personal identification number
ATM---Automatic Teller Machine
WAR---women against rape (name of an organization)
UNESCO---United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
6.Coinage(新造词)(invented words)
---The invention of totally new terms, one of the least common processes of word-formation in English.
Eg: aspirin nylon internet clone Microsoft Channel
7.Conversion(转换词)
--- A change in the function of a word is known as Conversion.
Eg: He’s papering the bedroom walls.
Have you buttered the toast?
They are vacationing in France.
They up the price of pork again in two days!
8.Derivation(派生词)
---Prefixes, suffixes and infixes are commonly known as parts of derivation.
Prefixes: unhappy, dislike, misunderstand, preview, abuse…
Suffixes: luckily, beautiful, movement, careless, foolish, …
Infixes(中缀)：Hallelujah—Halle bloody lujah
Absolutely—abso goddam lutely
Unbelievable—un fucking believable
I’ve gone to Singa bloody pore!
