Word Formation Processes

The number of words is growing; therefore, understanding some basic word formation processes will be helpful in one's learning. You will guided to some words formation processes that might be discuessed in linguistics courses. They are borrowing, compounding, blending, clipping, back formation, conversion, acronym, derivation, and affixation.

[1] Borrowing

A word is formed by borrowing the words in other languages. Look at the origins and examples of borrowing words below: 
• From French: treason, surplus, enemy...
• From Latin: abdomen, actor, agriculture, creditor, veto...
• From Greek: babaric, cube, echo, charisma ...
• From Arabic: alcohol, coffee, arsenal, mafia...

[2] Compounding

A new word is formed by compounding (or joining) two separate words. For examples,
• girl + friend → girldfriend
• hand + bag → handbag
• pop + corn → popcorn
• fire + plug → fireplug

[3] Blending

A new word is formed by joining the beginning part of word with the ending part of another word. For examples,
• breakfast + lunch → brunch
• fantastic + fabulous → fantabulous
• smoke + fog → smog
• gasoline + alcohol → gasohol

[4] Clipping

A new word is formed by reducing some syllable so that the new word is shorter. For examples,
• photograph → photo
• information → info
• examination → exam
• advertisement → ad

[5] Back formation

Similar to clipping, a new word is formed by reducing some syllable so that the new word is shorter, but there is a change in part of speech. For examples,
• television → televise
• option → opt
• editor → edit
• donation → donate

[6] Conversion

A new word is formed by chaning the word class of one word to another wordreducing some syllable so that the new word is shorter. For examples,
• paper (n) → to paper (v)
• spy (n) → to spy (n)
• total (n) → to total (v)
• empty (adj) → to empty (v)

[7] Acronyms

A new word is formed from the initial letters of a set of words, which are in capital letters; it becomes everyday word. For examples,
• radio detecting and ranging → radar
• light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation → laser
• self contained underwater breathing apparatus→ scuba

[8] Derivation

A new word is formed by adding an affix to the root word. Affixes are divided into 3 groups: prefixes, infixes, and suffixes.

Prefixes

A prefix is added to the beginning of a word to form another new word. For examples,
• dis- + honest → dishonest
• ir- + regular → irregular
• mis- + guide → misguide
• un- + happy → unhappy

Suffixes
A suffix is added to the end of a word to form another new word. For examples, • invite + -ation → invitation
• able + -ility → ability
• happy + -ness → happiness
• friend + -ship → friendship

Infixes
An infix, the least common affix in English, is added inside a word to form another new word. For examples, • absolutely + -bloody- → absobloodylutely
• unbelievable + -flipping- → unbeflippinglievable
• fantastic + -freakin- → fanfreakintastic