1、Chapter 4 Word Formation124.1 AffixationWhat is affixation?It is the formation of words by adding word-formation or derivational affixes to bases.This process is also known as derivation,and words created in this way are called derivatives.According to the positions affixes occupy in words,affixatio
2、n falls into two subcategories:prefixation and suffixation.34.1.1 PrefixationDefinition:it is the formation of new words by adding prefix to stems.Features:non-class changingExceptions:class-changing prefixes In modern English,there are small part of prefixes that do change the part of speech,eg.a i
3、n asleep,en in encourage.4Now look at the following words.Can you separate their prefixed from their root or stem?An example has been done for you.Word prefixrootretell retellex-wifemisleadingmultimediaautomobilemicrocomputervice-chairmanObserve the words and their roots or stems,do you think every
4、word enjoys the same part of speech with its root or stem?5On semantic basis,prefixes are divided into ten groups:Negative Prefixes否定前缀Reversative or privative prefixes逆反前缀Pejorative prefixes贬义前缀Prefixes of degree or size表范围和程度的前缀Prefixes of orientation and attitude表方向和态度的前缀Locative prefixes方位前缀Pref
5、ixes of time and order表时间和顺序的前缀Number prefixes数字前缀Conversion prefixes转化前缀Miscellaneous prefixes其他类型的前缀64.1.2 SuffixationDefinition:suffixation is the formation of new words by adding suffixes to stems.Features:unlike prefixes which primarily changes the meaning of the stem,suffixes have only a small
6、 semantic role,their primary function being to change the grammatical function of stems.In other words,they mainly change the word class.Classification:on a grammatical basis,suffixes are divided into noun suffixes,verb suffixes,adjective suffixes,etc.7Word Part of speechsuffixNew wordPart of speech
7、teachv.-domchildn.-lityfreeadj.-esesocialadj.-essinterviewv.-erteacherprincen.-ismrealadj.-tiontranslatev.-eecookv.-hoodJapann.-eryfreedomrealityJapaneseprincesssocialismtranslationintervieweechildhoodcookeryn.n.n.n.n.n.n.n.n.n.In the following table,there are 12 words of different parts of speech.M
8、atch the words with the corresponding suffixes to form a new word.Write out the new word and its part of speech.An example has been done for you.8 Compare the two lists of words.Could you tell how the parts of speech are changed?The different parts of speech in list one are changed to nouns in list
9、two.So,when a suffix is added to a stem,whatever part of speech it has been,the new word will be a noun.Thus we call this suffix noun suffix.It is the same case with adjective suffix,adverb suffix,and verb suffix.As for the new word,if it is originally a noun,by adding a noun suffix,it is still a no
10、un,but we call it a denominal noun,while if it is originally a verb,the new noun is called a deverbal noun.It is the same case with de-adjective noun.94.2 Compoundingpigtaildog-ear10Definition:It is the formation of new words by joining two or more bases.What is a compound?It is a lexical unit consi
11、sting of more than one base and functioning both grammatically and semantically as a single word.Types:solid:easygoing,necklace hyphenated:honey-bee,go-between open:easy chair11Phonological features:compound vs.free phrasesSemantic features:e.g.French leave;Chinese copy;Dutch treat Their meanings do
12、 not just follow the“1+1 Principle”,that is to say,their meanings are not the combination of the meanings of the two elements in the compound.Grammatical featurese.g.bad-mouthed/s;new-bornsOrthographical features Personal preference Characteristics:12Formation:Noun compounds;Adjective compounds;Verb
13、 compounds;134.3 ConversionDefinition:It is the formation of new words by converting words of one class to another class.14Read the following sentences;try to make the part of speech of the word”up”.Can you lift that box up onto the shelf for me?We climbed slowly up the hill.Is something up with Joh
14、n?He looks really sad.Without saying another word,he upped and left.Susan seems to be on an up at the moment.I hope it lasts.Words produced by conversion are primarily nouns,nouns,adjectives adjectives and and verbsverbs.The most productive,however,is the conversion that takes place between nouns no
15、uns and and verbsverbs.It deserves noting that conversion is not only a change of grammatical function of the lexical item involved but with it the different range of meaning that it originally carried.15It is the same case in English.16More words about conversion:In some cases,conversion is accompa
16、nied by certain changes that affect pronunciations or spelling or stress distributions.The most common changes are:Voiceless to voiced consonantInitial to end stress174.4 BlendingWhat is blending?Blending is the formation of new words by combing parts of two words or a word plus a part of another wo
17、rd.Words formed in this way are called blends or portmanteau words.18Try to draw out the major formation of the blends.brunch,Oxbridge,motel,smog-sitcom,telex-telequiz,medicare-eggwich,videophone-head+tailhead+headhead+wordword+tail194.5 ClippingDefinition Clipping is to shorten a longer word by cut
18、ting a part off the original and using what remains instead.e.g.plane and exam are often used in place of aeroplane and examination respectively.20Clipping wordsFull formfridgegastecfluzoopoprefrigeratorgasolineinfluenzadetectivepopular musiczoological garden21To sum up,there are four common types o
19、f clipping:Front clippingBack clippingFront and back clippingPhrase clipping224.6 AcronymyDo you know what are the full names of the following words in Chinese.人大,政协,妇联,高考,英专,邓论,超市,中青旅,公交23Now,lets look at some pictures,pay attention to the English words on the picture.Pick out those words formed by
20、 capital letters.24What is acronymy?It is the process of forming new words by joining the initial letters of composite names of social and political organizations or phrases used as technical terms.What are the words called by Acronymy called?Initialisms:pronounced letter by letterAcronyms:pronounced as a normal word254.7 Back-formationWhat is back-formation?It is considered to be the opposite process of suffixation.It is the method of creating words by removing the supposed suffixes.264.8 Sound reduplication语音重叠法4.9 Commonization of proper names专有名词转化的词27