Neoclassical

Compounds
LEXICAL STUDIES (HS-308)
Group Members:
Shafique Ahmed (EG-035)
Sulaiman Manzoor (EG-036)
Faraz Hussain (EG-037)
TOPICS:

1. Definition of neoclassical
compounds.
2. Some important concepts.
3. Why They Are Called
Neoclassical Compounds?
4. Difference Between Neoclassical
Compounds , and Affixation.
Neoclassical Compounds:
Neoclassical compounds are compound words consist of two or more
bound roots of classical origin (Greek or Latin). many such words are used as
technical and scientific lexicon of English and other languages, including
international scientific vocabulary.

For example, bio- combines with -graphy to form biography.

Some Important Concepts
a)native compounds: are defined on the basis of a main property: they result from the
combination of two (or more) native lexemes. Thus, we have something like [Lexeme
+Lexeme]Lexeme.

b)(ICFs) Initial Combining Forms: include forms of neoclassical elements that appear at initial
positions (e.g. bio-, cardio-, patho-, etc.)

c)(FCFs). Final Combining Forms : include forms of neoclassical elements that appear at final
positions (e.g. -logy, -cide, -pathy, etc.).Moreover, more than one ICF may appear sequentially
in a neoclassical compound (e.g. histo- and patho-in histopathology).

d)Thematic vowel: the Greek thematic vowel -o-in morphology , the Latin thematic vowel -i- in
miniskirt. this vowel usually facilitates the combination and also function as a linking element.
Why They Are Called Neoclassical
Compounds?
Some scholars maintain that these formations are of modern
origin as they did not exist in classical languages. That is why
they are called neoclassical . Many labels are used to refer to
the constituents of neoclassical compounds, namely initial
combining forms, final combining forms, constituents, Due to
their ambiguous nature, linguists treat them differently
because no specific criteria have been established for their
delimitation.
Difference Between Neoclassical
Compounds , and Affixation
1.an affix cannot combine with another affix to form a new word while Neoclassical elements show
idiosyncratic behavior as they tend to appear not only in combinations with one another but also with
native English words.

2. If a neoclassical compound is formed by combining two neoclassical element, a thematic vowel is

required in-between those element while it's not required in affixation

3. Many neoclassical compounds possess a compositional property (the meaning of the whole can be
restored from the meaning of the parts). This property is as well valid for many complex terms (terms
that consist of more than one
component). For example, the complex term washing machine is in fact a ma-chine designed to wash.
Thus, some approaches have been proposed to translate complex terms depending on this
compositional property
We define neoclassical compounds as single-word terms consisting of at least one neoclassical element.

4. Furthermore, neoclassical elements have been introduced later than prefixes and suffixes to many
European
languages, around the 19th century to English
REFERENCES:
https://www.academia.edu/6815917/Neoclasical_compounds

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307688738_Neocla
ssical_compounds_and_final_combining_forms_in_English

https://hal-univ-tlse2.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-
00966824/document