Morphology 101: Word-formation processes

Summary

This video offers an engaging introduction to word formation processes in linguistics, exploring how new words are created. It covers key methods like compounding (e.g., 'chunderbolt'), derivation (with affixation and non-affixation processes), and contrasts them with inflection. The video explains how affixes can change word forms, while non-affixation processes like conversion, backformation, blending, and clipping create entirely new words. The script also distinguishes between lexical (derivation) and grammatical (inflection) processes, providing examples and offering a clear and humorous guide to the topic. Perfect for linguistics enthusiasts and learners alike!

Takeaways

• 😀 Lexemes are the basic units of meaning, found in dictionaries and the lexicon of a language.
• 😀 Word formation is the process of creating new words by combining or altering existing lexemes.
• 😀 Compounding involves combining two lexemes together, like 'chunder' and 'bolt' to form 'chunderbolt'.
• 😀 Derivation can be broken down into two categories: affixation and non-affixation.
• 😀 Affixation adds prefixes, suffixes, or other types of affixes to create new words, like adding '-ful' to 'respect' to form 'respectful'.
• 😀 Non-affixation includes processes like conversion, backformation, blending, and clipping to form new words.
• 😀 Conversion changes the word class of a lexeme without altering its form, like 'address' as a noun and verb.
• 😀 Backformation involves creating words by removing suffixes, such as turning 'editor' into 'edit'.
• 😀 Blending is the merging of parts of words, like 'lion' and 'tiger' becoming 'liger'.
• 😀 Clipping shortens words, like 'pram' from 'perambulator'.
• 😀 Inflection does not create new lexemes but modifies existing ones for grammatical purposes, such as tense or plural forms.

Q & A

What is a lexeme?

A lexeme is the standard form of a word, found in every good dictionary or in the lexicon of a language.

What is word formation in linguistics?

Word formation in linguistics refers to the processes by which new words are created using existing lexemes, morphemes, or word parts.

What is the difference between compounding and derivation?

Compounding involves combining two lexemes to create a new word (e.g., 'chunderbolt'), while derivation involves modifying a lexeme through affixation or non-affixation to form a new word.

What is affixation in word formation?

Affixation is a process where prefixes, suffixes, infixes, or circumfixes are added to a lexeme to create a new word, like adding '-ful' to 'respect' to form 'respectful.'

What is non-affixation in word formation?

Non-affixation refers to word formation processes such as conversion, backformation, blending, and clipping, where the word form itself is altered without the use of affixes.

Can you give an example of conversion in word formation?

An example of conversion is changing the word 'address' (a noun) into 'address' (a verb), without altering its form.

What is backformation in word formation?

Backformation is the process of creating a new word by removing parts of an existing word, like forming 'edit' from 'editor.'

What is blending in word formation?

Blending involves combining parts of two words to create a new one, like 'brunch' from 'breakfast' and 'lunch.'

How does clipping work in word formation?

Clipping is the process of shortening a word, such as turning 'perambulator' into 'pram.'

What is the difference between inflection and derivation?

Inflection modifies a lexeme to fit into different grammatical contexts without creating new lexemes, while derivation creates new lexemes through processes like affixation or conversion.