Syllabus, Week 3

Sources for the enrichment of English: Derivation (Word Formation);

Prefixation: negative, reversative or privative, pejorative prefixes;

Prefixes of size and degree; Prefixes of attitude, Prefixes of time and order; Conversion prefixes;

Suffixation: Nominal suffixes; Nouns derived from other nouns;

Nominal/adjectival suffixes; Nouns formed from verbs; Nouns formed from adjectives;

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Processes in Word Formation

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Word formationprocesses

affixation conversion compounding others

prefixation suffixation abbreviations back-formation

blending re-duplication

clipping acronyms alpha-betisation

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Contents

Word-Formation I: the Major Processes Word-Formation II: the Minor Processes Motivation

Word-Formation I: The Major Processes

General RemarksPrefixationSuffixation ConversionCompounding

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General Remarks

The three major processes Affixation or Derivation (17.5%)

Prefixation Suffixation

Conversion (10.5%) Composition or compounding (27%)

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Prefixation

The definition of prefixation Prefixation is the formation of new words by adding

prefixes to stems. Prefixes do not generally change the word-class of the stem but only modify its meaning. However, there is an insignificant number of class-changing prefixes

Non-class-changing prefixes: natural-unnatural, like-dislike, fair-unfair

Class-changing prefixes: force-enforce, danger-endanger, form-deform, little-belittle, war-postwar, college-intercollege

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Prefixation

The classification of prefixes In some reference books, prefixes (and suffixes)

are classified according to their source, but this does not seem to help from a practical point of view. It seems more helpful to classify the most important productive prefixes by their meaning into the following ten categories:

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Prefixation

1) Negative prefixesa-/an- amoral, asexual, atheism, anacid, anarchy,

dis- dishonest, discontent, discover, disobey, disagree

in- Incomplete, inconsistent, incorrect, invulnerable, illogical, illegal, impolite, immoral, imbalance, irrational, irregular

non- nonviolent, non-cooperation, nonautomatic, nonadjustable, nonalcoholic

un- uninformative, unexpected, unease, unrest

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Prefixation Order Literate Symmetry Governmental Relevant Productive Believable Vulnerable Sane Related Aligned Mature

Disorder Illiterate Asymmetry Nongovernmental Irrelevant Unproductive Unbelievable Invulnerable Insane Unrelated Nonaligned Immature

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Prefixation

2) Reversative or privative

de- defrost, deregulation, degeneration, deformed, denationalize

un- undo, unpack, untie, unwrap, unmask

dis- disconnect, dishearten, disinterested

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Prefixation

Centralize Plane Infect Zip Regulate Possess Pollute

Decentralize Deplane Disinfect Unzip Deregulate Dispossess Depollute

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Prefixation

3) Pejorative prefixes

mis- misguide, misapplication, misbehavior, mischoice, misgiving

mal- maladjustment, maldigestion, malfunction, maldevelopment

pseudo- pseudonym, pseudoscience, pseudoclassic, pseudo-friend

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Prefixation

4) Prefixes of degree or sizehyper- hyperactive, hypercritical, hyperaggressive, hypercautious

ultra- ultramodern, ultrasecret, ultraclean, ultrasonic, ultraconservative

mini- minibus, minicamera, miniskirt

out- outdo, outgrown, outlive

over- overwork, overestimate, overemphasize, overabundance, overburden

under- underdeveloped, underpopulation, undergraduate

super- supermarket, superpower, superstar

sub- subadult, subtitle, subbreed, subatom

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Prefixation

Computer Critical Conscious Natural Sensitive Simple Number Statement culture

Minicomputer Ultracritic /hypercritic Subconscious Supernatural Hypersensitive/ultrasensitive Oversimple Outnumber Understatement Subculture

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Prefixation

5) Prefixes of orientation and attitude

co- Co-author, co-star, co-prosperity, cooperation

counter- Counterexample, counterclaim, counteractive, counterattack, counterculture, countermeasure

anti- anti-abortion, anti-art, antiwar, antibacterial, antisocial, anticancer, antibody

pro- pro-American, pro-revolutionary, pro-Fascism , pro-student, proslavery

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Prefixation

6) Locative prefixes

fore- forearm, foreleg, forename, foreword

inter- international, intergovernmental, intertwine, interdisciplinary, intercollege

trans- transatlantic, transoceanic, transform, transplant

tele- telephone, telegram, telecommunication

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Prefixation

View Conference Continental Ground Cast Specific Racial Shore

Interview teleconference Intercontinental Foreground Telecast Transpacific Transracial Foreshore

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Prefixation

7) Prefixes of time and order

ex- ex-husband, ex-president, ex-colony, ex-convict

fore- foresee, foretell, forefather, forewarn

pre- premature, prewar, prehistoric, prepay, premarital

post- post-election, postwar, postgraduate, postdoctoral

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Prefixation

8) Number prefixesuni-/mono- unilateral, unicell, unicircuit, unicolor, unicycle,

unidimensional, uniform, unipolar, monoxide, monocrystal, monogamy, monologue

bi-/di- bicycle, bilingual, bimonthly, dioxide, dialogue, dichotomy, disyllable

tri- triangular, triatomic, trimonthly, trilateral, trilingual

multi-/poly- multipurpose, multipolar, multiangular, multilingual, polyatomic, polycrystal, polygamy

semi- semicircle, semiliterate, semivowel, semiannual, semicolony, semiautomatic

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Prefixation

Lingual Lateral Polar Dimensional

Unilingual, bilingual, trilingual, multilingual

Unilateral, bilateral, trilateral, multilateral

Unipolar, bipolar, tripolar, multipolar

Unidimensional, bidimensional, tridimensional (three-dimensional), multidimensional

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Prefixation

9) Conversion prefixes

a- aloud, asleep, aglow, awash

be- belittle, bestir, befriend, bewitch

en- endanger, enforce, enable, embody, embitter, empower

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Prefixation

10) Miscellaneous prefixes

Extra- Extralinguistic, extraordinary, extraterrestrial

Neo- Neo-classicism,neo-colonialism, neo-fascism, Neolithic

Pan- Pan-Pacific, Pan-Arabism, Pan-Africanism

…… ………..

Prefix and word meaningMatch the words in the B column to the general meaning in A

A= General Meaning B= Words_____ again or back 1) unpopular, unkind, unhappy, unlucky _____ before 2) biweekly, bimonthly, biannual _____ badly or wrong 3) delete, deforestation, decentralize,

decongest_____ Remove or take away 4) preview, predict, prehistoric, prefix, preparation _____ Not (opposite of something) 5) reply, repeat, resend, restart, remember_____ far 6) television, telephone, telescope, telecommunic_____ twice 7) octopus, octave, octogenarian, October _____ One, whole, same 8) uniform, unify, _____ eight 9) subway, submarine, subtract, subdue, _____ Under or low 10) mistake, misunderstand, misbehave, misread, _____ Many or more than two 11) multiple, multiply, multicolored,

multilingual 23

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Suffixation

The definition of suffixation Suffixation is the formation of new words by

adding suffixes to stems. Unlike prefixes which primarily change the meaning of the stem, suffixes have only a small semantic role, their primary function being to change the grammatical function of stems. In other words, they mainly change the word class. However, they may also add attached meaning to the stem.

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Suffixation

The classification of suffixes Since suffixes mainly change the word class, we

shall group suffixes on a grammatical basis into 1) noun suffixes 2) adjective suffixes 3) adverb suffixes 4) verb suffixes

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Suffixation

1) Noun suffixes Noun suffixes may be subdivided into the

following five kinds. Denominal nouns (concrete or abstract) Deverbal nouns De-adjectival nouns Noun and adjective suffixes

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Suffixation

1) Noun suffixes

Denominal nouns (concrete)-eer auctioneer, engineer, mountaineer, pamphleteer,

profiteer, racketeer

-er Londoner, teenager, villager

-ess actress, waitress, stewardess, hostess, lioness

-let booklet, leaflet, piglet, starlet

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Suffixation

1) Noun suffixesDenominal nouns (abstract)

-age baggage, luggage, mileage, percentage

-dom freedom, kingdom, stardom, officialdom

-ery/-ry drudgery, slavery, nunnery, nursery, machinery

-ism idealism, optimism, individualism, consumerism

-ship dictatorship, scholarship, friendship, sportsmanship

-ocrasy aristocracy, democracy, meritocracy

-hood boyhood, brotherhood, neighborhood, adulthood

-ful handful, mouthful, plateful, tubful

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Suffixation

1) Noun suffixesDeverbal nouns

-ant contestant, inhabitant, assistant, informant

-ee interviewee, addressee, appointee, nominee, employee

-er/-or driver, employer, interviewer, computer, silencer, accelerator, supervisor, actor, window-shopper

-ation foundation, exploration, nomination, starvation

-ing building, dwelling, earnings, savings, clothing, stuffing

-al refusal, revival, survival, arrival, dismissal

-ment amazement, arrangement, movement, government

-age breakage, coverage, shrinkage, drainage

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Suffixation

1) Noun suffixes

De-adjectival nouns-ity diversity, equality, rapidity, verbosity, responsibility,

actuality, regularity, popularity, respectability

-ness accurateness, falseness, kindness, selfishness, happiness, largeness, frankness, unexpectedness, thickness, goodness

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Suffixation

1) Noun suffixes

Nouns and adjective suffixes -ese Burmese, Chinese, Cantonese, officialese, journalese

-(i)an Darwinian, republican, Elizabethan, Shakespearean, Indonesian, Russian

-ist communist, pianist, specialist, socialist

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Suffixation

2) Adjective SuffixesDenominal suffixes

-ed dogged, rugged, pointed, chocolate-flavored

-ful delightful, successful, faithful, meaningful

-ish childish, foolish, snobbish, Irish, Turkish

-less homeless, hopeless, merciless, harmless

-like childlike, ladylike, statesmanlike

-ly friendly, cowardly, motherly, daily, weekly

-y milky, sandy, hairy, meaty

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Suffixation

2) Adjective Suffixes

Denominal suffixes -ic (-atic) ethnic, economic, historic, problematic

-ous (-ious, -eous)

ambitious, desirous, marvelous, courageous, erroneous, courteous

-al (-ial, -ical) accidental, professional, residential, musical, philosophical

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Suffixation

2) Adjective Suffixes

Deverbal suffixes -able (-ible, -uble)

debatable, drinkable, changeable, perishable, permissible, visible, dissoluble, soluble

-ive (-ative, -sive)

attractive, reflective, productive, negative, decorative, talkative, affirmative, expansive, explosive, decisive

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Suffixation

3) Adverb Suffixes

-ly smoothly, personally, extremely, publicly, naturally

-ward(s) downward, eastward, homeward, forward

-wise clockwise, lengthwise, weatherwise, educationwise, taxwise, moneywise

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Suffixation

4) Verb suffixes-ate Originate, hyphenate

-en Deepen, harden, strengthen, hasten

-ify Solidify, modify, beautify, classify, identify

-ize(-ise) Symbolize, computerize, legalize, publicize, specialize

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Suffixation

False Sterile Intense Fat Horror Memory Apology

Falsify Sterilize Intensify Fatten Horrify Memorize Apologize

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Conversion

The definition of conversion Conversion is a word-formation whereby a word

of a certain word-class is shifted into a word of another without the addition of an affix. It is also called zero derivation.

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Conversion

Major types of conversion Noun-verb conversion Verb-noun conversion Adjective-noun conversion

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Conversion

Noun-verb conversion He elbowed his way through the crowd. Problems snowballed by the hour. The newspaper headlined his long record of

accomplishments. Kissinger got the plans and helicoptered to

Camp David.

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Conversion

Abuse Advice House Use Belief Grief Shelf mouth

Abuse Advise House Use Believe Grieve Shelve Mouth

Changes of pronunciation and spelling

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Conversion

Verb-noun conversion He was admitted to the university after a three-

year wait. This little restaurant is quite a find. It is a good buy. He took a close look at the machine. doubt, smell, desire, want, attempt, hit, reply,

divide

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Conversion

Verb-noun conversion Phrasal verb-noun conversion

Right branching Left branching

Break down Breakdown Break out Outbreak

Pick up Pick-up Spill over Overspill

Take over Take-over Start up Upstart

Get together Get-together Put in Input

Break through Breakthrough Keep up upkeep

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Conversion

Conflict Abstract Contrast Decrease Discount Export Rebel

Permit Progress Protest Transfer Transplant Survey Torment

Shift of stress

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Conversion

Adjective-noun conversion Partial conversion Complete conversion

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Conversion

Adjective-noun conversion Partial conversion

Denoting a quality or a state common to a group of person: the deaf, the blind, the poor, the wounded

Denoting peoples of a nation (ending in –sh, -se, -ch): the English, the Chinese, the Danish, the Scotch

Denoting a quality in the abstract: a strong dislike for the sentimental, to distinguish the false and the true, from the sublime to the ridiculous

Denoting a single person (converted from participles): the accused, the deceased, the deserted, the condemned

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Conversion

Adjective-noun conversion Complete conversion

A native, two natives, a returned native He is a natural for the job. Tom is one of our regulars, he comes in for a drink

about this time every night. To them she is not a brusque crazy, but appropriately

passionate. They are the creatives in the advertising department.

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Compounding

The definition of compounding Composition or compounding is a word-

formation process consisting of joining two or more bases to form a new unit, a compound word. It is a common device which has been productive at every period of the English language. Today the largest number of new words are formed by compounding.

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Compounding

Forms of compounds Solid: bedtime, honeymoon Hyphenated: above-mentioned, town-planning Open: reading material, hot line

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Compounding

Types of compounds Noun compounds Adjective compounds Verb compounds

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Compounding

Noun compounds Headache, housekeeping, hot line, swimming

pool, raindrop, breakdown, biological clock, identity crisis

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Compounding

Adjective compounds Weather-beaten rocks, peaceloving people,

everlasting friendship, a difficult-to-operate machine, a made-up story, an on the spot inspection, taxfree products, fire-proof dress

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Compounding

Verb compounds Formed by back-formation

house-keep from housekeeper windowshop from window-shopping mass produce from mass production hen-peck from hen-pecked spoon-feed from spoon-fed.

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Compounding

Verb compounds Formed by conversion

to blue-print, to cold-shoulder, to outline, to honeymoon, to snowball, to chain-smoke, to sweet-talk, to job-hop.

Thank You

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