Words and Word-formation Processes 3 (final part)

Backformation: it is a very specialised type of reduction. One word type is usually transformed into another one. Take the noun ‘television’, which can be transformed into‘televise’; ‘enthusiasm’ is transformed into enthuse’, even the verb ‘backform’ is backformed from ‘backformation’. Another regular pattern that is famous to be backformed is the one ending in ‘-er’. The assumption is that if a noun ends in ‘-er’ or a closer sound ‘-or/-ar’, a verb can be created with that noun. Conversion: if a word’s function is changed without any form of reduction, the process is labelled as ‘category change’, ‘functional shift’, or ‘conversion’. Did you know that someone can chair a meeting, and that you can butter your bread? Conversion includes the transformation of simple verbs (to guess/ a guess), phrasal verbs (to take over/ a takeover), or even this complex verb combination (want to be/ a wannabe). This process involves even adjectives and compound nouns. It is more famous in modern English.

Acronyms: they are words formed from the initial letters of a set other words. CD refers to ‘compact Disc.’ ATM means ‘automatic teller machine.’ Some acronyms became everyday words such as ‘radar’ (radio detecting and ranging). Derivation: the most common word-formation process involves the use of affixes. They come in the form of prefixes and suffixes. ​ There are some instances where a single word includes many word-formation processes simultaneously. One famous example is the word ‘deli’, which was borrowed from German (delicatessen), then clipped into its current form.