Shortening (Clipping or Curtailment)

is the reduction of a word to one of its parts, building new words with the help of subtraction of a part of the original word. It exists in English from the XV-th century and has gained a special productivity. A lot of neologisms are formed in this way: detox (detoxification) – часть больницы или клиники, где лечат алкоголиков и наркoманов, lib (liberation), scrip (prescription). A shortened word is different from its prototype in meaning, style and usage. We classify shortenings according to the position of the clipped part:

apocope – the final part of the word is clipped:

gym – gymnasium, photo - photograph, lab – laboratory, prep –preparation, exam – examination (this type is numerous).

apheresis – the initial part of the word is clipped:

cute – acute, story – history, sport – disport, chute – parachute (this type is less numerous).

syncope – the middle part of the word is clipped: maths – mathematics, specs – spectacles, fancy – fantasy, ma’am – madam.

a combination of initial & final clipping: fridge – refrigerator, tec – detective, flu – influenza.

Clipped forms exist in the language alongside with prototypes. Shortening produces words in the same part of speech. the majority of clipped words are nouns ^. Sometimes it is very difficult to establish a connection between the two words: chap + chapman, fan – fanatic. It is typical of curtailed words to render only one of the secondary meanings of a polysemantic word:

• to double (умножить, увеличить в 2 раза, сыграть в октаву, сбежать – военный термин);

• to dub – дублировать фильм.

What are the reasons for the considerable role of shortening in Modern English word-building? Linguistic causes – analogical extension, modification of form on the basis of analogy – English monosyllabism. Extralinguistic causes – rapid tempo of modern life.

Graphical Abbreviations. Acronyms

A growing custom to use laconic forms, to call countries, different official organizations by initial abbreviations typical of written speech was established in English since 30_s – 40_s of the XX-th century. They are very popular on the threshhold of the XXI-st century.

There are two types of orthoepic correlation between written and spoken forms. If the abbreviated written form is read as an ordinary English word it is called an acronym: UNO – United Nations Organization, USA – United States of America, NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization, radar – radio detection and ranging, TESOL – Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. Coining new words from the initial letters of phrasal terms is explained by the requirement for a strong signal in the minimum time.

If the abbreviated written form retains alphabetical reading it is pronounced as a series of letters: BBC – the British Broadcasting Corporation, GI – Government Issue, DOD – Department of Defense, GOP – Grand Old Party (Republican), FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation (cf. Russian ФБР), MP – Memeber of Parliament or Military Police.

A special type of graphical abbreviations is used in writing to replace full forms of words and to economize time, space and effort. N.Y. – New York, X-mas – Christmas, B.A. – Bachelor of Arts, U-boat – a submarine, U-language – upper-class language.

Latin abbreviations typical of written speech may be replaced in reading by their English equivalents: e.g. – exempli gratia, p.m. – post meridiem, ib (id) – ibidem, i.e. – id est, op.cit. –opus citato, cf. – conferre.

There are certain graphical abbreviations which are in active use:

Apt. Apartment – квартира

Blvd. Boulevard – бульвар

P.O. – Post Office – почта

Rd. – Road – дорога

Rw. – Railway – железная дорога

St. –Saint – святой

St. – Street – улица

Names of American States:

AL – Alabama, FL – Florida, NB – Nebraska, OK – Oklahoma

Days of the Week:

Mo – Monday, Tues – Tuesday, Fri – Friday

Months:

M. – May, Mar. – March, Oct. – October, J. – July

Special Signs:

@ - at the rate of – по цене

/ - and, or – и, или

# - number – номер

& - and – и

© - copyright – авторское право

Miscellanea:

c – cents – центы

D/A – documents attached – документы приложены

ft – foot – фут (30, 48 см)

Inc. – Incorporated – имеющий статус корпорации

LE – Latest estimates – последние данные

M & S – marketing & sales – маркетинг и продажи

N/C – no change – без начислений

OH – overhead expenses – накладные расходы

do. ditto – то же самое

hrs – hours – часы

enc(l). – enclosure – приложение

intl. – international – международный

et, al – et alii (лат.) – и другие

i/c – in charge of – исполняющий обязанности

СОD – cash on delivery – оплата наложенным платежом

A/R – all risks – любая случайность