2ºBach WORD FORMATION

We have already talked about the power of language to create new words. It is actually us who have that power in our hands. An example of this has been during the quarantine, many new words have been coined and have become part of our daily language

Have a look at the following word cloud. By the way, I used a free word cloud generator, Worditout, to create this cloud. You can use this wonderful tool to create your own glossaries. It's a visual help to remember the new words you come across with.

Do you recognise these?

1. Google these words and expressions, and write a sentence you may have found in the press next to each.

2. All new words are created by one of these mechanisms. Read and add one word to each:

Derivation The commonest method of creating a new word adding a prefix or suffix to an existing one. Back formation The opposite of derivation, twe create a new root word by removing a phantom affix. The noun sleaze, for example, was back-formed from “sleazy” in about 1967.

Compounding The juxtaposition of two existing words.

Repurposing Taking a word from one context and applying it to another. For example, mouse. Conversion Taking a word from one word class and transplanting it to another. Example: friend can now serve as a verb as well as a noun (“Why didn’t you friend me?”). Eponyms Words named after a person or place. You may recognise Alzheimer’s, atlas, cheddar, alsatian, diesel, rimmel, sandwich...

Abbreviations An increasingly popular method. There are three main subtypes: clippings, acronyms and initialisms: pram (perambulator), taxi/cab (both from taximeter cabriolet), mob (mobile vulgus), goodbye (God be with you), van (caravan).

Loanwords In English most loans are borrowed from French, Latin and Greek; Nahuatl (tomato – via Spanish), Tahitian (tattoo), Russian (mammoth), Mayan (shark), Gaelic (slogan).

Calques

flea market, brainwashing, loan word are translations of borrowings.

Onomatopeia The creation of a word by imitation of the sound it is supposed to make. Plop, ow, barf, cuckoo, bunch, bum. Reduplication The repetition, or near-repetition, of a word or sound: flip-flop, goody-goody, boo-boo, lovey-dovey, tom-tom, hip hop ...

Nonce words Words pulled out of thin air, bearing little relation to any existing form. Confirmed examples are few and far between, but include quark (Murray Gell-Mann), bling (unknown) and fleek (Vine celebrity Kayla Newman). Error Misspellings, mishearings, mispronunciations and mistranscriptions: scramble, for example, seems to have originated as a variant of scrabble. Portmanteaus Compounding with a twist. Take one word, remove an arbitrary portion of it, then put in its place either a whole word, or a similarly clipped one. Thus were born sitcom, internet, sexting.

Some words came about through a combination of methods: yuppie is the result of initialism ((y)oung and (up)wardly mobile) plus derivation (+ -ie).

In the 20th century, quite a few were born by using using -ie (and -y) suffix: talkies, freebie, foodie, hippy, roomie, rookie, roofie, Munchie, Smartie, Crunchie...

Now, the passion for initialisms seems to be wearing off, perhaps because things have got a little confusing; PC, for example, can now mean politically correct, police constable, per cent, etc.

3. Listen to Brook and Katie's interviews. Then do the quizzes below.

a. Brook Interviews her Sister: Check your Comprehension!

Part A: Multiple Choice (Choose the best answer!)

1. What is Britlyn’s age?

1. Twelve

2. Sixteen

3. Seventeen

4. Twenty One

2. What are some of Britlyn’s hobbies?

1. Ski, Run, Outdoor Activities, Soccer

2. Lacrosse, Run, Athleticism, Outdoor Activities

3. Jump Rope, Swim, Run, Walk

3. What are the FIVE things Britlyn mentions that you need to play Lacrosse?

1. Stick, Lacrosse Ball, Cleats, Mouth Guard, Googles

2. Stick, Basketball, Soccer Ball, Paint, Googles

3. Goal Post, Jacket, Mouth Guard, Cleats, Googles

4. Cleats, Socks, Shorts, Skirt, Googles

Part B: Fill in the blanks

Fill in the blanks (3 words): Britlyns High School is called _______ ______ ______.

Fill in the blanks (3 words): _________ _________ _________ was filmed at Britlyns High School.

Part C: Answer each question

1. TRUE or FALSE: School was canceled at the end of September in Utah.

2. TRUE or FALSE: Britlyn has less homework now than she did before.

3. TRUE or FALSE: AP Tests cannot help you get into College or University.

4. 
   

b. Katie Interviews her friend Haley: Check your Comprehension!

Part A: Multiple Choice (Choose the best answer!)

1. What is Haley’s job?

1. 6th grade math and special education teacher at a private school

2. 6th grade math and physical education teacher at a private school

3. 6th grade math and physical education teacher at a public school

4. 6th grade math and special education teacher at a public school

2. How far apart do people need to stay?

1. 6 feet

2. 16 feet

3. 7 feet

4. 17 feet

3. Which of the following is NOT one of the ways Haley has been trying to keep herself busy at home?

1. Ordering take-out

2. Watching TV

3. Cooking

4. Having a workout routine

Part B: Fill in the blanks

Fill in the blanks (2 words): Haley was volunteering at a _______ ______ Center.

Fill in the blanks (2 words): The centers mentioned in #5 are for children whose parents are _________ _________.

Fill in the blanks (3 words): They’ve seen a surge in ________ sales....There’s a huge ______ in sales for ______ right now.

Part C: Answer each question

1. TRUE or FALSE: In New York, teachers were required to go to school until March 30th.

2. At what time has the subway been shutting down for cleaning?:

3. How many times per day does Haley try to leave the house now?:

4. At what time do people applaud in New York?