Syllabus, Week 3

Sources for the enrichment of English:

Derivation (Word Formation);
Prefixation:
negative, reversative or privative, pejorative prefixes;
Prefixes of size and degree; Prefixes of attitude,
Prefixes of time and order; Conversion prefixes;

Suffixation:
Nominal suffixes; Nouns derived from other nouns;
Nominal/adjectival suffixes; Nouns formed from
verbs; Nouns formed from adjectives;
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Processes in Word Formation

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Word formation
processes
affixation conversion compounding others
prefixation suffixation abbreviations
back-
formation
blending
re-
duplication
clipping
acronyms alpha-
betisation
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Contents
Word-Formation I: the Major Processes
Word-Formation II: the Minor Processes
Motivation

Word-Formation I:
The Major Processes
General Remarks
Prefixation
Suffixation
Conversion
Compounding
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General Remarks

The three major processes
Affixation or Derivation (17.5%)
Prefixation
Suffixation
Conversion (10.5%)
Composition or compounding (27%)
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Prefixation
The definition of prefixation
Prefixation is the formation of new words by adding
prefixes to stems. Prefixes do not generally change the
word-class of the stem but only modify its meaning.
However, there is an insignificant number of class-
changing prefixes
Non-class-changing prefixes: natural-unnatural, like-dislike, fair-
unfair
Class-changing prefixes: force-enforce, danger-endanger, form-
deform, little-belittle, war-postwar, college-intercollege
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Prefixation
The classification of prefixes
In some reference books, prefixes (and suffixes)
are classified according to their source, but this
does not seem to help from a practical point of
view. It seems more helpful to classify the most
important productive prefixes by their meaning
into the following ten categories:

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Prefixation
1) Negative prefixes



a-/an- amoral, asexual, atheism, anacid, anarchy,
dis- dishonest, discontent, discover, disobey, disagree
in- Incomplete, inconsistent, incorrect, invulnerable,
illogical, illegal, impolite, immoral, imbalance,
irrational, irregular
non- nonviolent, non-cooperation, nonautomatic,
nonadjustable, nonalcoholic
un- uninformative, unexpected, unease, unrest
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Prefixation
Order
Literate
Symmetry
Governmental
Relevant
Productive
Believable
Vulnerable
Sane
Related
Aligned
Mature



Disorder
Illiterate
Asymmetry
Nongovernmental
Irrelevant
Unproductive
Unbelievable
Invulnerable
Insane
Unrelated
Nonaligned
Immature



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Prefixation
2) Reversative or privative

de- defrost, deregulation, degeneration, deformed,
denationalize
un- undo, unpack, untie, unwrap, unmask
dis- disconnect, dishearten, disinterested
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Prefixation
Centralize
Plane
Infect
Zip
Regulate
Possess
Pollute

Decentralize
Deplane
Disinfect
Unzip
Deregulate
Dispossess
Depollute

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Prefixation
3) Pejorative prefixes

mis- misguide, misapplication, misbehavior, mischoice,
misgiving
mal- maladjustment, maldigestion, malfunction,
maldevelopment
pseudo- pseudonym, pseudoscience, pseudoclassic,
pseudo-friend
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Prefixation
4) Prefixes of degree or size

hyper- hyperactive, hypercritical, hyperaggressive, hypercautious
ultra- ultramodern, ultrasecret, ultraclean, ultrasonic, ultraconservative
mini- minibus, minicamera, miniskirt
out- outdo, outgrown, outlive
over- overwork, overestimate, overemphasize, overabundance, overburden
under- underdeveloped, underpopulation, undergraduate
super- supermarket, superpower, superstar
sub- subadult, subtitle, subbreed, subatom
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Prefixation
Computer
Critical
Conscious
Natural
Sensitive
Simple
Number
Statement
culture
Minicomputer
Ultracritic /hypercritic
Subconscious
Supernatural
Hypersensitive/ultrasensitive
Oversimple
Outnumber
Understatement
Subculture





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Prefixation
5) Prefixes of orientation and attitude

co- Co-author, co-star, co-prosperity, cooperation
counter- Counterexample, counterclaim, counteractive,
counterattack, counterculture, countermeasure
anti- anti-abortion, anti-art, antiwar, antibacterial, antisocial,
anticancer, antibody
pro- pro-American, pro-revolutionary, pro-Fascism , pro-
student, proslavery
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Prefixation
6) Locative prefixes
fore- forearm, foreleg, forename, foreword
inter- international, intergovernmental, intertwine,
interdisciplinary, intercollege
trans- transatlantic, transoceanic, transform, transplant
tele- telephone, telegram, telecommunication
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Prefixation
View
Conference
Continental
Ground
Cast
Specific
Racial
Shore

Interview
teleconference
Intercontinental
Foreground
Telecast
Transpacific
Transracial
Foreshore



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Prefixation
7) Prefixes of time and order

ex- ex-husband, ex-president, ex-colony, ex-convict
fore- foresee, foretell, forefather, forewarn
pre- premature, prewar, prehistoric, prepay, premarital
post- post-election, postwar, postgraduate, postdoctoral
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Prefixation
8) Number prefixes

uni-/mono- unilateral, unicell, unicircuit, unicolor, unicycle,
unidimensional, uniform, unipolar, monoxide, monocrystal,
monogamy, monologue
bi-/di- bicycle, bilingual, bimonthly, dioxide, dialogue, dichotomy,
disyllable
tri- triangular, triatomic, trimonthly, trilateral, trilingual
multi-/poly- multipurpose, multipolar, multiangular, multilingual,
polyatomic, polycrystal, polygamy
semi- semicircle, semiliterate, semivowel, semiannual,
semicolony, semiautomatic
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Prefixation
Lingual
Lateral
Polar
Dimensional
Unilingual, bilingual,
trilingual, multilingual
Unilateral, bilateral,
trilateral, multilateral
Unipolar, bipolar, tripolar,
multipolar
Unidimensional,
bidimensional,
tridimensional (three-
dimensional),
multidimensional

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Prefixation
9) Conversion prefixes


a- aloud, asleep, aglow, awash
be- belittle, bestir, befriend, bewitch
en- endanger, enforce, enable, embody, embitter, empower
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Prefixation
10) Miscellaneous prefixes
Extra- Extralinguistic, extraordinary, extraterrestrial
Neo- Neo-classicism,neo-colonialism, neo-fascism,
Neolithic
Pan- Pan-Pacific, Pan-Arabism, Pan-Africanism
..
Prefix and word meaning
Match the words in the B column to the general meaning in A
A= General Meaning B= Words
_____ again or back 1) unpopular, unkind, unhappy, unlucky
_____ before 2) biweekly, bimonthly, biannual
_____ badly or wrong 3) delete, deforestation, decentralize, decongest
_____ Remove or take away 4) preview, predict, prehistoric, prefix, preparation
_____ Not (opposite of something) 5) reply, repeat, resend, restart, remember
_____ far 6) television, telephone, telescope, telecommunic
_____ twice 7) octopus, octave, octogenarian, October
_____ One, whole, same 8) uniform, unify,
_____ eight 9) subway, submarine, subtract, subdue,
_____ Under or low 10) mistake, misunderstand, misbehave, misread,
_____ Many or more than two 11) multiple, multiply, multicolored, multilingual


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Suffixation
The definition of suffixation
Suffixation is the formation of new words by
adding suffixes to stems. Unlike prefixes which
primarily change the meaning of the stem,
suffixes have only a small semantic role, their
primary function being to change the
grammatical function of stems. In other words,
they mainly change the word class. However,
they may also add attached meaning to the stem.
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Suffixation
The classification of suffixes
Since suffixes mainly change the word class, we
shall group suffixes on a grammatical basis into
1) noun suffixes
2) adjective suffixes
3) adverb suffixes
4) verb suffixes

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Suffixation
1) Noun suffixes
Noun suffixes may be subdivided into the
following five kinds.
Denominal nouns (concrete or abstract)
Deverbal nouns
De-adjectival nouns
Noun and adjective suffixes
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Suffixation
1) Noun suffixes


Denominal nouns (concrete)
-eer auctioneer, engineer, mountaineer, pamphleteer,
profiteer, racketeer
-er Londoner, teenager, villager
-ess actress, waitress, stewardess, hostess, lioness
-let booklet, leaflet, piglet, starlet
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Suffixation
1) Noun suffixes

Denominal nouns (abstract)
-age baggage, luggage, mileage, percentage
-dom freedom, kingdom, stardom, officialdom
-ery/-ry drudgery, slavery, nunnery, nursery, machinery
-ism idealism, optimism, individualism, consumerism
-ship dictatorship, scholarship, friendship, sportsmanship
-ocrasy aristocracy, democracy, meritocracy
-hood boyhood, brotherhood, neighborhood, adulthood
-ful handful, mouthful, plateful, tubful
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Suffixation
1) Noun suffixes

Deverbal nouns
-ant contestant, inhabitant, assistant, informant
-ee interviewee, addressee, appointee, nominee, employee
-er/-or driver, employer, interviewer, computer, silencer, accelerator,
supervisor, actor, window-shopper
-ation foundation, exploration, nomination, starvation
-ing building, dwelling, earnings, savings, clothing, stuffing
-al refusal, revival, survival, arrival, dismissal
-ment amazement, arrangement, movement, government
-age breakage, coverage, shrinkage, drainage
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Suffixation
1) Noun suffixes

De-adjectival nouns
-ity diversity, equality, rapidity, verbosity, responsibility,
actuality, regularity, popularity, respectability
-ness accurateness, falseness, kindness, selfishness,
happiness, largeness, frankness, unexpectedness,
thickness, goodness
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Suffixation
1) Noun suffixes



Nouns and adjective suffixes
-ese Burmese, Chinese, Cantonese, officialese, journalese
-(i)an Darwinian, republican, Elizabethan, Shakespearean,
Indonesian, Russian
-ist communist, pianist, specialist, socialist
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Suffixation
2) Adjective Suffixes



Denominal suffixes
-ed dogged, rugged, pointed, chocolate-flavored
-ful delightful, successful, faithful, meaningful
-ish childish, foolish, snobbish, Irish, Turkish
-less homeless, hopeless, merciless, harmless
-like childlike, ladylike, statesmanlike
-ly friendly, cowardly, motherly, daily, weekly
-y milky, sandy, hairy, meaty
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Suffixation
2) Adjective Suffixes

Denominal suffixes
-ic (-atic) ethnic, economic, historic, problematic
-ous (-ious,
-eous)
ambitious, desirous, marvelous, courageous,
erroneous, courteous
-al (-ial, -ical) accidental, professional, residential, musical,
philosophical
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Suffixation
2) Adjective Suffixes

Deverbal suffixes
-able (-ible,
-uble)
debatable, drinkable, changeable, perishable,
permissible, visible, dissoluble, soluble
-ive (-ative,
-sive)
attractive, reflective, productive, negative,
decorative, talkative, affirmative, expansive,
explosive, decisive
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Suffixation
3) Adverb Suffixes


-ly smoothly, personally, extremely, publicly, naturally
-ward(s) downward, eastward, homeward, forward
-wise clockwise, lengthwise, weatherwise, educationwise,
taxwise, moneywise
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Suffixation
4) Verb suffixes

-ate Originate, hyphenate
-en Deepen, harden, strengthen, hasten
-ify Solidify, modify, beautify, classify, identify
-ize(-ise) Symbolize, computerize, legalize, publicize,
specialize
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Suffixation
False
Sterile
Intense
Fat
Horror
Memory
Apology


Falsify
Sterilize
Intensify
Fatten
Horrify
Memorize
Apologize
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Conversion
The definition of conversion
Conversion is a word-formation whereby a word
of a certain word-class is shifted into a word of
another without the addition of an affix. It is also
called zero derivation.

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Conversion
Major types of conversion
Noun-verb conversion
Verb-noun conversion
Adjective-noun conversion

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Conversion
Noun-verb conversion
He elbowed his way through the crowd.
Problems snowballed by the hour.
The newspaper headlined his long record of
accomplishments.
Kissinger got the plans and helicoptered to
Camp David.

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Conversion
Abuse
Advice
House
Use
Belief
Grief
Shelf
mouth
Abuse
Advise
House
Use
Believe
Grieve
Shelve
Mouth
Changes of pronunciation and spelling
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Conversion
Verb-noun conversion
He was admitted to the university after a three-
year wait.
This little restaurant is quite a find.
It is a good buy.
He took a close look at the machine.
doubt, smell, desire, want, attempt, hit, reply,
divide
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Conversion
Verb-noun conversion
Phrasal verb-noun conversion


Right branching Left branching
Break down Breakdown Break out Outbreak
Pick up Pick-up Spill over Overspill
Take over Take-over Start up Upstart
Get together Get-together Put in Input
Break through Breakthrough Keep up upkeep
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Conversion
Conflict
Abstract
Contrast
Decrease
Discount
Export
Rebel

Permit
Progress
Protest
Transfer
Transplant
Survey
Torment

Shift of stress
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Conversion
Adjective-noun conversion
Partial conversion
Complete conversion
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Conversion
Adjective-noun conversion
Partial conversion
Denoting a quality or a state common to a group of person: the
deaf, the blind, the poor, the wounded
Denoting peoples of a nation (ending in sh, -se, -ch): the
English, the Chinese, the Danish, the Scotch
Denoting a quality in the abstract: a strong dislike for the
sentimental, to distinguish the false and the true, from the
sublime to the ridiculous
Denoting a single person (converted from participles): the
accused, the deceased, the deserted, the condemned
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Conversion
Adjective-noun conversion
Complete conversion
A native, two natives, a returned native
He is a natural for the job.
Tom is one of our regulars, he comes in for a drink
about this time every night.
To them she is not a brusque crazy, but appropriately
passionate.
They are the creatives in the advertising department.
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Compounding
The definition of compounding
Composition or compounding is a word-
formation process consisting of joining two or
more bases to form a new unit, a compound
word. It is a common device which has been
productive at every period of the English
language. Today the largest number of new
words are formed by compounding.
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Compounding
Forms of compounds
Solid: bedtime, honeymoon
Hyphenated: above-mentioned, town-planning
Open: reading material, hot line
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Compounding
Types of compounds
Noun compounds
Adjective compounds
Verb compounds
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Compounding
Noun compounds
Headache, housekeeping, hot line, swimming
pool, raindrop, breakdown, biological clock,
identity crisis

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Compounding
Adjective compounds
Weather-beaten rocks, peaceloving people,
everlasting friendship, a difficult-to-operate
machine, a made-up story, an on the spot
inspection, taxfree products, fire-proof dress

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Compounding
Verb compounds
Formed by back-formation
house-keep from housekeeper
windowshop from window-shopping
mass produce from mass production
hen-peck from hen-pecked
spoon-feed from spoon-fed.

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Compounding
Verb compounds
Formed by conversion
to blue-print, to cold-shoulder, to outline, to
honeymoon, to snowball, to chain-smoke, to sweet-
talk, to job-hop.





Thank You
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