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.
Coconut oil oil made from coconuts.
Olive oil oil made from olives.
Baby oil oil
NOT foroil
babies
made from babies
cathouse a house where men visit
prostitutes
blue-movies

blue-chip
go-go
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) SQL a) Structured query language
b) FYI b) For Your Information
c) TGIF c) Thanks God Its Friday
d) a.k.a. d) also known as
e) Html e) Hypertext mark-up language
f) www f) World wide web
g) SWOT 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 Gas
Advertisement Ad
Omnibus 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have been replaced by clean-cut metrosexual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 Automate Backformation

2. information, entertainment Infotainment Blend
3. modulator, demodulator Modem Blend
4. Greek, god Greek-god Compound
5. International, police Interpol Blend
6. influenza Flu Clipping
7. delicatessen Deli Clipping
8. Capt. Charles Cunningham Boycott 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)
Thats All For Today
See You Next Week

Deny A. Kwary
http://www.kwary.net
Airlangga University