COTABATO STATE UNIVERSITY
Graduate School
EDE 602 : Foundations of Language Studies
MODULE 6
Arrive at the Meaning of Words through Word
Formation Processes
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:
a. identify the different types of word formation process;
b. create the meaning of the word through the used of word formation process; and
c. realize the importance of word formation process to widen our vocabulary.
INTRODUCTION
Word Formation: Its Definition
Word formation is a fascinating area of
linguistics that examines how new words are
created in a language. It delves into the processes
and patterns through which speakers generate
and comprehend words.
The ‘Word Formation’ is regarded as the branch of Morphology, and it has a
significant
role
in
expanding
the
vocabulary.
Also known as the word-building process which new words are created in a language.
Word formation is a change of words from the old form to the new form (Hidayah
& Mu'man, 2020). In general, word formation is known as a phenomenon very close to
human life in the world, and it can be concluded that word formation is a method of
forming new words from existing words based on some linguistic rules. increase. There
are many types of word formation, such as etymology, coinage, borrowing,
compounding, blending, clipping, conversion, acronyms, derivation, and etymology, etc.
(Yule, 2006).
In the process of word formation, there are explore some of the basic processes
by which new words are created specifically for derivation. According to Yule (2006:57)
derivation is the process of word formation to be found in the production of new
English word. The process of word formation is through the addition affix (suffix), which
can be either a prefix (prefix) or suffix (suffix). For example of the addition prefix as like
asleep for a+ sleep, rewrite for re+write, incorrect for in+correct. And the addition of
the suffix as like importance for example import + ance as the suffix, enjoyment for
enjoy+ment, happiness for happy+ness.
Time allotment/ duration: 1 hour
Core-Related values and Biblical Reflection:
Excellence: Competence
Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the
simple.
LEARNING CONTENT
Topic Content:
Word Formation Processes:
The process of word formation is widely recognised as a phenomenon that is
innate to human life all around the world. As defined by Trask (1997), the process of
word formation is a method of creating new words from previously existing components.
Meanwhile, according to Hacken and Thomas (2013), the word creation process is the
method through which new words are created based on a set of rules. Aside from that,
according to Plag (2003), the term “word formation process” refers to the process of
creating new words from existing ones. Based on the foregoing description, it can be
inferred that the word formation process is the method of constructing new words from
existing words by certain rules.
B. View the available slides found in this link to learn more about the word formation process
https://www.slideshare.net/wenliejeantumana/word-formation-processes-251626093
Video Transcripts: Word Formation Process
1. Derivation – this process involves adding affixes to a base word to create a new word
with a different meaning or word class. Affixes are regarded as bound morphemes.
The derivation is also known as affixation. This process formed by adding affixes to
an existing word to create a new words. Haspelmath (2003) explained the commonly,
word-class of the base lexeme, nouns changed by derivation pattern. can be derived
from verbs ‘de-verbal’, nouns to adjectives ’de-nominal’, and so on.
Example 1:
Example 2:
Talkative = Talk + -ative (suffix)
Activity = Active + -ity (suffix)
Validate = Valid + -ate (suffix)
Endanger = en- (prefix) + danger
2. Back Formation – is a process that eliminates the actual derivational affix from the
main form to create a new word. Backformation formed by cutting off an affix to form a
shorther new word in English. The part of speech of new word is different from the
original word. For example, (televise) is backformation of (television) by cutting of the
affix (- ion).
3. Conversion – a word of one grammatical form converts into another grammatical
form without changing any spelling or pronunciation. Conversion is the process of
forming new word by change of the function of word, when a noun comes to be
used a verb (without any reduction). For the example from noun to verb the word
‘bottle’ from the sentence ‘The wine was bottled in Hong Kong but brewed in
France.’ And ‘butter’ from the sentence (“. I prefer jam. So, don't butter the bread
for me.’ Another conversion from verb to noun. ‘hit’ (He scored a hit in his first
shot.) and ‘cheat’ in a sentence (to make him win easier, he used some cheats in
the computer game.)
For example, she is watering the plants in the garden. and she watered the
plants
last morning. The word water in that sentence is said to be a conversion.
Water is a noun form. But in this sentence, the word water must be changed to be a
verb. However, the word she acts as a subject, the plant acts as an object, and in
the garden and last morning acts as an adverb. Then the word water turns into
watering and watered acts as a verb.
4. Clipping – reduces or shortens a word without changing the exact meaning. In
contrast to the back formation, it reserves the original meaning. Cutting or
shortening a word is often used in everyday conversation. Cutting word is usually
taken only one syllable. The formation of this new word is called clipping. Clipping
usually used when in an informal situation. whereas informal situations, people
always use complete word formation. Clipping is made to create new words with the
same meaning. For example, flu from influenza. The word flu is often used in
everyday conversation. Others will know the meaning of the word and will use it
more efficiently, even if it is different from the actual word.
5. Blending – a word formation method where parts of two of more words combine to
form a new word. Almost the same as compounding, blending is a combination of
two different word classes that are combined into a word. However, the formation of
this word is taken from the beginning of one word and the end of another word, thus
giving rise to a new shorter word. Some words are usually classified as a mixture
because they are made up of a combination of the first and last two word parts of a
word. For example, wanna from want + to, branch from breakfast + lunch, and motel
from motor + hotel.
6. Acronyms – is a popular process in which an initialism is pronounced as a word. It
forms from the first letter of each word in a phrase, and the newly formed letters
create a new word that helps us speedy communication. Acronyms or referred to as
abbreviations are one type of word formation process, taking the initial letters of a
series of words to form a new single word.
Examples: LAN (Local Area Network) UK (United Kingdom)
robot (residents official board of technology)
PIN (Personal Identification Number)
Acronyms are divided into two types, the first is acronyms which are
pronounced as a word. This type of acronym often derived from a phrasal name.
some of these acronyms occur so frequently that people often know what the
words mean even though they use them often; e.g., aids, robot. Another type is
acronyms can be produced by sequences of letters.
For Example COD (cash on delivery); VIP (very important person); UFC (ultimate
fighting championship). Each letter of this acronym often symbolizes a word, its entire
element in a compound, or a component of a word. It's also important to note that
some of these acronyms have been phonetically formed. Examples: M.C (Master of
Ceremonies); DJ (Disk Jockey), etc.
7. Borrowing- is another word-formation process in which a word from one language
is borrowed directly into another language. Borrowing is one of the most common
sources of getting new words in English. That is the taking over of words from
other languages. Throughout history the English language has adopted a vast
number of loan words from other languages.
For example:
Alcohol (Arabic)
Boss (Dutch)
Croissant (French)
Piano (Italian)
Pretzel (German)
Robot (Czech)
Zebra (Bantu)
8. Coinage – the invention of totally new word/terms. Coinage is a common process of
word-formation in English and it is the invention of totally new terms. The most
typical sources are invented trade names for one company´s product which become
general terms (without initial capital letters) for any version of that product.
For example: aspirin, nylon, zipper, and the more recent examples kleenex, teflon.
These words tend to become everyday words in our language.
9. Etymology- the study of the origin or history of the word. The term is derived from
the Latin but has its origin in Greek (“etumon-”Original form and “logia” -study of).
10. Compounding- a process that allows words to combine to make a new word. It can
also be formed as two words joined with a hyphen. Compounding is the process of
combining two separate words to produce a new single word. This is in accordance
with the definition of compounding described by several experts such as, O’Grady et
al., (1997), stated that compounding is one way to build a new word by combining
two or more lexical categories (noun, adjective, verb, or preposition).
For example: Brainwash = Brain + wash
Bookworm = Book + worm
Facebook = Face + book
Fingerprint = Finger + print
LEARNING EVALUATION
Teaching-Learning Activities
TLA Individual
Brainstorming
Expected Output: Written Explanation
Instruction: Explain what are the things to be considered before arriving at a particular meaning of
words?
ASSESSMENTS
AT1. Google Classroom Online Quiz
Expected Output: Online Quiz
Instruction: Student visits the Google classroom to perform the quiz.
ASSIGNMENTS
Individual Activity
Expected Output: Reflection Paper
Instruction: Write a two-page reflection paper of the lessons discussed.
RUBRICS FOR GRADING
Individual Activity: Reflection Paper
Category
5
Content /
Reflection
The reflection paper
demonstrates deep
understanding of the
topic. The ideas are
insightful, welldeveloped, and
supported with
evidence and
examples.
Organization The paper has a clear
of Ideas
and logical structure.
The ideas are wellorganized, and there is
a smooth flow of
thoughts. Transitions
between paragraphs
are seamless.
Language
and Style
Format and
Mechanics
4
The reflection paper
shows a good
understanding of the
topic. The ideas are
clear supported with
some evidence and
examples.
3
The reflection paper
demonstrates basic
understanding of the
topic, but somewhat
unclear or lacking in
support.
2
The reflection paper
shows limited
understanding of the
topic. The ideas are
unclear, unsupported,
or irrelevant.
The paper is mostly
clear and logical in
structure. The ideas
are organized, and
there is a generally
smooth flow of
thoughts. Transitions
between paragraphs
are mostly effective.
The paper has an
The paper lacks clear
inconsistent structure. structure. The ideas are
The ideas are
disorganized, and the
somewhat
flow of thoughts is
disorganized, and the confusing. Transitions
flow of the thoughts is between paragraphs
occasionally disrupted. are weak.
Transitions between
paragraphs are
somewhat weak.
The paper shows
The paper has some The paper has
The paper
good language use, language issues, such significant language
demonstrates
with a varied
as limited vocabulary problems, such as
excellent language
vocabulary sentence or sentence
limited vocabulary, poor
use, with a wide
structures. The
structures. The writing sentence structures, or
range of vocabulary
writing is clear,
is somewhat unclear numerous errors that
and sentence
coherent, and mostly or contains occasional hinder comprehension.
errors.
structures. The writing free of errors.
is engaging, coherent,
and free of errors.
The paper partially
The paper does not
The paper follows the The paper mostly
follows the required follows the required follow the required
required format and
format and length
format and length
length guidelines. It is format and length
guidelines. It contains guidelines. It has
well edited with proper guidelines. It is
adequately edited,
some errors in
numerous errors in
grammar, punctuation,
with generally correct grammar,
grammar, punctuation,
and citation style.
grammar,
punctuation, or
or citation style.
punctuation, and
citation style.
citation style.
Total Score
REFERENCES
Aronoff, M. (1976 ). Word Formation in Generative Grammar. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Bauer, L. (1988). When is a sequence of two nouns a compound in English? English
Language and Linguistics 2: 65–86.