How New Words Are Made

New WordsEnglish Language

Creation

How are new words are made? Acronyms Compounds Blends Word Coinage Clippings Borrowing

Acronyms

What is an acronym?

What are some examples?

Acronyms

Made from all or most of the letter in a

name or phrase; e.g QANTAS, ANZAC.

• Radar

• radio detecting and ranging apparatus

• Scuba

• self contained underwater breathing

apparatus

Acronyms and Initialisms

Why are abbreviations such as

“HMSO” or “GPS” not acronyms?

Because they are not said as words.

Acronyms or Initialism?

BRBNASACSIRORAMDSLDVDTV

Blends

Some new words are a blend of two

older words.

They take a part from two or more

words and blend them together.

Can you think of some examples?

Blends

• Brunch• = breakfast + lunch

• Motel • = motor car + hotel

• Sitcom • = situation + comedy

• Telecast • = television + broadcast

• Breathalyser • = breath analyser

Clippings

New words come from part of an existing word.

These are more commonly found in informal writing and speech.

In formal writing, the longer form continues to used.

Can you think of some examples?

Clippings

Professor Prof

Laboratory Lab

Telephone Phone

Mathematics Maths

Pianoforte Piano

More Clippings

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Bicycle Bike

Gymnasium Gym

Compounds

Compound words are made when two existing words are joined.

Can you think of any examples?

Compounds: Noun + Noun Noun + Noun = New Noun

Girlfriend Girl+Friend

Landlord Land+Lord

Rainbow Rain+bow

Postman Post+man

Compounds: Adjective + Adjective

Adjective+Adjective=? New adjective

Red+hot Red-hot

Bitter+sweet Bittersweet

Compound: Noun+Adjective

head+strong Headstrong

Life+long Lifelong

Noun+adjective=? New adjective

Compound: Verb+Noun

Dare+Devil Daredevil

Pick+Pocket Pickpocket

Verb+Noun=? New noun

Compound or Blend?

iMac

Facebook

Chillax

Floordrobe

Word Coinage

Words are created to cater for new inventions, products or services.• Nylon• Polyester• Internet• Lycra

Can you think of some more?

Word Coinage

Coinage also occurs when brand

names are used as normal words.

• Coke

• Kleenex

• Windex

• Can you think of some more?

Borrowing

Words that originate in other languages are said to have been “borrowed” by English.

What language did these words come from?

LandscapeUproarKnapsackBrandyRosterEasel

From which language? Dutch

What language did these words come from?

TornadoAlligatorMosquitoComradeGuitarEsplanade

From which language? Spanish

What language does this word come from?

Ombudsman Norwegian

What language did these words come from?

PioneerLiaisonReservoirPoliceChef

From which language? French

What language did these words come from?

TempoFortePastaCrescendo

From which language? Italian

How were these words made?

WebinarFanboyFrenemyWebisodeMissaletteWaterboardingGoji

References

This pack was based on the pack called “Morphology” that Mr Atherton gave to me.