Word Coinage
Deny A. Kwary
http://www.kwary.net
Airlangga University
English Word Coinage
1. Compounds
2. Acronyms
3. Back-formations
4. Abbreviations
5. Eponyms
6. Blends
1. Compounds


Definition: Two or more
words joined together to
form a new word.
Examples:


Home + work  homework
Pick + pocket  pickpocket
Note: The meaning of a compound is not always
the sum of the meanings of its parts.
 oil made from coconuts.
 oil made from olives.
 oil
NOT
foroil
babies
made from babies
 a house where men visit
prostitutes
 blue-movies 
 blue-chip

 go-go

Coconut oil
 Olive oil
 Baby oil
 cathouse

2. Acronyms


Definition: Words derived from the initials of
several words
Examples:


severe acute respiratory syndrome
 SARS
Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus
 SCUBA
Other examples of Acronyms:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
SQL
FYI
TGIF
a.k.a.
Html
www
SWOT
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

Structured query language
For Your Information
Thanks God It’s Friday
also known as
Hypertext mark-up language
World wide web
Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities and Threats
3. Back-formations


Definition: Creative reduction
due to incorrect morphological
analysis.
Examples:
 editor (1649)
 edit (1791)
 television (1907)
 televise (1927)
4. Abbreviations (Clipping)


Definition: A word which is clipped
Examples:
 Facsimile
 fax
 Hamburger
 burger



Gasoline
Advertisement
Omnibus
 Gas
 Ad
 Bus
5. Eponyms


Definition: Words derived
from proper names or things.
Examples:
 Sandwich
 Celcius
6. Blends


Definition: Similar to compounds,
but parts of the words are deleted.
Examples:



Motor + hotel  Motel
Breakfast + lunch  Brunch
Wireless + Fidelity  Wi-Fi
Is this a blend?
Case Study: Blends or Compunds

‘Wild-haired revolutionaries like Che Guevara
have been replaced by clean-cut metrosexual
icons like soccer star David Beckham and
musician Ricky Martin.’ (cbsnews.com, 25th
November 2003).

‘No botox for the Retrosexual. No $1,000
haircuts. The retrosexual man eats red meat
heartily and at times kills it himself.’ (The
Washington Dispatch, 2nd May 2004).
Complete the process and
Identify the type of word coinage:
1. automation
2. information, entertainment
3. modulator, demodulator
4. Greek, god
5. International, police
6. influenza
7. delicatessen
8. Capt. Charles Cunningham Boycott








Automate
Backformation
Infotainment  Blend
Modem 
Blend
Greek-god  Compound
Interpol 
Blend
Flu

Clipping
Deli

Clipping
Boycott 
Eponym
Group Assignment:
One group should consist of 8 – 10 students.
The assignments must be collected today at 13.00.
•
•
•
•
Write six examples of compounds. Write the
definition.
Write five examples of acronyms, and what they
stand for.
Write four examples of clipping, and the original
words.
Write three examples of blends. Write the
definitions and what they are composed of.
(You may combine examples taken from English
or Indonesian)
That’s All For Today
See You Next Week
Deny A. Kwary
http://www.kwary.net
Airlangga University