MORPHOLOGY

WORD FORMATION PROCESSES

EXERCISES
Exercise 1
Word formation processes
Determine the word formation process for each of the following words
Words Word-formation processes
1. tsunami A. compounding
2. radar B. derivation
3. breakfast C. borrowing
4. webcam D. conversion
5. exam E. blending
6. televise F. acronym
7. denim G. alphabetism
8. ATM H. clipping
9. email (v) I. coinage
10. friendliness J. backformation
1. C 2. F 3. A 4. E 5. H
6. J 7. I 8. G 9. D 10. B

Exercise 2
Word formation processes
Determine the word formation process for each of the following words
Words Word-formation processes
1. babysit A. clipping
2. boyfriend B. borrowing
3. email (v) C. acronym
4. friendly D. backformation
5. lab E. multiple processes
6. policemen F. conversion
7. sitcom G. derivation
8. tsunami H. coinage
9. WHO I. compounding
10. zipper J. blending

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 1. D 2. I 3. F 4. G 5. A
6. E 7. J 8. B 9. C 10. H

Exercise 3

(a) Acronym
(b) Coinage
(c) Infixing
(d) Conversion
(e) Compounding + Conversion
(f) Clipping
(g) Backformation
(h) Borrowing – Hypocorism

Exercise 4

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 (a) Blending
(b) Coinage
(c) Blending + Conversion
(d) Compounding
(e) Eponym + Conversion
(f) Clipping + Conversion

Exercise 5
Give the original words from which these clipped words were formed.
1. porno  pornography
2. disco  discotheque
3. taxi  taxicab
4. cab  cabriolet
5. deli  delicatessen
6. vibes  vibrations
7. gin  gintonic
8. hype  hyperbole
9. curio  curiosity
10. memo  memorandum
11. Fred  Frederick
12. Al  Albert
13. Tom  Thomas
14. Joe  Joseph
15. Phil  Philip
16. sport  disport

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17. pike  turnpike
18. bus  omnibus
19. van  caravan
20. chute  parachute
21. wig  periwig
22. cute  acute
23. Gene  Eugene
24. Beth  Elizabeth
25. Tony  Anthony

Exercise 6
Pronounce these acronyms and give their originals.
1. RV  Recreation Vehicle
2. NOW  National Organization for Women
3. UNESCO  United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
4. OK  oll korrect
5. scuba  Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
6. OPEC  Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
7. WASP  White Anglo-Saxon Protestant
8. ICBM  intercontinental ballistic missile
9. jeep  Just Enough Essential Parts
10. laser  light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation

Exercise 7
Give the originals of these blends.
1. flunk = flinch + funk
2. happenstance = happening + circumstance
3. stagflation = stagnation + inflation
4. simulcast = simultaneous + broadcast
5. gelignite = gelatin + dynamite
6. smog = smoke + fog
7. dumbfound = dumb + confound
8. telecast = television + broadcast
9. dandle =
10. splatter = splash + sputter

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Exercise 8
Give the blends that result from fusing these words.
1. transfer + resistor = transistor
2. automobile + omnibus = autobus
3. escalade + elevator = escalator
4. blare or blow + spurt = blurt
5. squall + squeak = squawk

Exercise 9
Identify the class of reduplication by one of these numbers.
1. repetition without change = Exact
2. repetition with change of initial consonant = Rhyming
3. repetition with change of vowel = Ablaut
1. knick-knack = A
2. ding-dong = A
3. wishy-washy = A
4. quack-quack = E
5. rowdy-dowdy = R
6. hoity-toity = R
7. hocus-pocus = R
8. flip-flop = A
9. humdrum = R
10. nitty-gritty = R

Exercise 10
Identify the different word-formation processes involved in producing each of the underlined words in
the sentences below. The processes mentioned are acronym, backformation, blending, borrowing,
clipping, coinage, compounding, conversion (‘zero derivation’), eponym, reduplication, hypocorism,
loan-translation (‘calque’).
a. We will carpet this room.
b. This device will self-destruct in 30 seconds.
c. Could you give me a quick recap on what’s been decided?
d. A day return to London, please.
e. Coloring your hair was a no-no at that time.
f. Jane decided to spring-clean her apartment.
g. What are the core rules of netiquette?

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h. The tax court concluded that the sale was not a bona fide transaction.
i. Business confidence is on the up.
j. My old man said follow the van, and don’t dilly-dally on the way.
k. This year the show will be simulcast live to 50 different countries.
l. Did you get my memo about the meeting?
m. My guess is that the company will need a bailout.
n. I think Robyn said she’d like a toastie for brekkie.
o. You don’t need to button it because it’s got Velcro inside.

a. Conversion
b. Back formation
c. Clipping
d. Conversion + compouding
e. Reduplication
f. Back formation
g. Blending
h. Borrowing + compounding
i. Conversion
j. Reduplication
k. Blending
l. Clipping
m. Conversion
n. Hypocorism
o. Coinage