Seminar 3 Major types of word-formation

1. 1. Conversion as a productive type of word-building means in Modern English. The historical development of conversion: synchronic and diachronic approach. Semantic relationships in conversion. Conversion in different parts of speech. Conversion and other types of word-formation.

2. Word-composition. Characteristic feature of compound words in all languages. Two characteristic features of English compounds. Ways of forming compound words. Classifications of English compounds (according to the parts of speech; according to the way components are joined together; according to their structure; according to the relations between the components of compound words; according to the order of the components).

Recommended Literature:

I.V. Arnold. The English Word. М., 1986, pp. 108–133, 153–164.

R.S.Ginzburg. A course in Modern English Lexicology. М., 1979, pp. 127–158.

G.B.Antrushina English lexicology. М., 1999, pp. 78–104.

Seminar 4. Minor types of word-formation.

I. 1. Shortening of spoken words and its clauses. Correlations of a curtailed word and its prototype. Etymological doublets. Types of clipping: apocope, aphaeresis, syncope. Ellipsis. Stylistic peculiarities of shortened words.

2. Blending. Classification of blendings. Additive and restrictive types of blends.

3. Graphical abbreviations. Acronyms and initialisms. Latin abbreviations. Journalistic abbreviations. Occasional jocular or accidental distortions.

4. Sound imitation (onomatopoeia). Peculiarities of onomatopoeic words. Types of onomatopoeic words.

5. Back-formation. Hypocorisms. Frequent patterns of back-formation. Semantic relations between the prototype and the derivative.

6. Reduplication. Reduplicative compounds proper. Ablaut combinations. Rhyme combinations.

II. Exercises to Seminars 3-4

1. By means of which word-formation processes have the following lexemes been arrived at?

To photocopy	To enthuse	Radio station	Modernism
Motel	Ready-made	Phone	To shoulder
To bottle	National	Language lab	Polymorphemic
To overestimate	Ex-minister	To lecture	Childish
To sharpen	Vet	Smog	Washable
Laser	Pub	FIFA	To whiten
To party	Girl friend	To xerox	Hoover
To bus	cig

2. Which word-formation processes are involved in the following sentences?

a) Laurie parties every Saturday night.

b) Tom worried that he might have AIDS.

c) Zee described the new toy as fantabulous.

d) Eliza exclaimed: Absobloominlutely!

3. More than one process was involved in the creation of each of the indicated forms below. Can you identify them?

a) I just got a new car-phone.

b) Shiela wants to be a footballer.

c) The negotiators blueprinted a new peace proposal.

d) Another skyjacking has just been reported.

4. Distribute the following words among the word-formation processes

acronym

compounding

blending

clipping

derivation

back formation

RSVP, horseshoe, gas, ATM, smog, sitcom, RAM, FedEx, gangster, earring, memo, ASAP, moped, cheeseburger, dorm, notebook, fridge, anklet, washable, flu, childish, readability, sunglasses, photo, breathalyzer, megabyte, CPU, Doc, spam, feminist, blacklist, steno, to enthuse, Fruitopia, kickstand, scraper, pancake, to emote, sidewalk, headache, scanner, math, neighbourhood, sailboat, USA, DOS, racetrack, football, CD, suitcase, resurrect, milkshake, to page, to televise, fairground, exam, UFO, skateboard, demo, radar, preempt

5. Which process or processes of word formation can you identify in the examples below?

a) franglais	d) CD player	g) to shop	j) boy-crazy
b) espresso	e) euro	h) vicarage	k) pillar-box red
c) docudrama	f) radar	i) unselfishness	l) best-sellers

6. Which words are the components of the following blends:

boatel, hurricoon, wintertainment, bomphlet, stagflation?

Recommended Literature:

I.V. Arnold. The English Word. М., 1986, pp. 134-150.

G.B.Antrushina English lexicology. М., 1999, pp. 116-120.