Word CoinageWord Coinage

Deny A. Kwary

http://www.kwary.net

Airlangga University

English Word CoinageEnglish Word Coinage

1.1. CompoundsCompounds

2.2. AcronymsAcronyms

3.3. Back-formationsBack-formations

4.4. AbbreviationsAbbreviations

5.5. EponymsEponyms

6.6. BlendsBlends

1. Compounds1. Compounds

Definition: Two or more words joined together to form a new word.

Examples: Home + work homework Pick + pocket pickpocket

Note: The meaning of a compound is not always the sum of the meanings of its parts.

cathouse

Coconut oil oil made from coconuts. Olive oil oil made from olives.

NOT oil made from babiesoil for babies Baby oil

a house where men visit prostitutes

blue-movies blue-chip

go-go

2. Acronyms2. Acronyms

Definition: Words derived from the initials of several words

Examples: severe acute respiratory syndrome

SARS Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

SCUBA

Other examples of Acronyms:

a) SQL

b) FYI

c) TGIF

d) a.k.a.

e) Html

f) www

g) SWOT

a) Structured query language

b) For Your Information

c) Thanks God It’s Friday

d) also known as

e) Hypertext mark-up language

f) World wide web Strengths, Weaknesses,

Opportunities and Threats

3. Back-formations3. Back-formations

Definition: Creative reduction due to incorrect morphological analysis.

Examples: editor (1649)

edit (1791) television (1907)

televise (1927)

4. Abbreviations (Clipping) 4. Abbreviations (Clipping)

Definition: A word which is clipped Examples:

Facsimile fax Hamburger burger

Gasoline

Advertisement Omnibus

Gas

Ad

Bus

5. Eponyms5. Eponyms

Definition: Words derived from proper names or things.

Examples: Sandwich Celcius

6. Blends6. Blends

Definition: Similar to compounds, but parts of the words are deleted.

Examples: Motor + hotel Motel Breakfast + lunch Brunch Wireless + Fidelity Wi-Fi

Is this a blend?

Case Study: Blends or Compunds

‘Wild-haired revolutionaries like Che Guevara have been replaced by clean-cut metrosexual icons like soccer star David Beckham and musician Ricky Martin.’ (cbsnews.com, 25th November 2003).

‘No botox for the Retrosexual. No $1,000 haircuts. The retrosexual man eats red meat heartily and at times kills it himself.’ (The Washington Dispatch, 2nd May 2004).

Complete the process and Identify the type of word coinage:

1. automation

2. information, entertainment

3. modulator, demodulator

4. Greek, god

5. International, police

6. influenza

7. delicatessen

8. Capt. Charles Cunningham Boycott

Automate

Infotainment

Modem

Greek-god

Interpol

Flu

Deli

Boycott

Backformation

Blend

Blend

Compound

Blend

Clipping

Clipping

Eponym

Group Assignment: One group should consist of 8 – 10 students.The assignments must be collected today at 13.00.

• Write six examples of compounds. Write the definition.

• Write five examples of acronyms, and what they stand for.

• Write four examples of clipping, and the original words.

• Write three examples of blends. Write the definitions and what they are composed of.

(You may combine examples taken from English or Indonesian)

That’s All For TodaySee You Next Week

Deny A. Kwary

http://www.kwary.net

Airlangga University