language change key terms Flashcards
what is coinage/neologisms? give examples
the deliberate creation of a new word
hobbit, internet or widget
what is borrowing? give examples
borrowing words or concepts from other languages
bungalow (India), castle, ballet
what is clipping? give examples
words that are shortened which becomes the norm
gym, deli, bus, phone
what is compounding? give examples
words combined together to form a new word
handheld, user-friendly, long-winded
what is blending? give examples
a combination of clipping and compounding
words abbreviated and joined together to make a new word
smog, moped
what is an acronym? give examples
first letters taken from a series of words to form a new term where it is said as a word
AIDS, NATO
what is an initialism? give examples
first letters taken from a series of words to form a new term where each letter is pronounced
NHS, CD, MP3
what is affixation? give examples
one or more free morphemes combined with on or more bound morphemes
disinterest, marketer, regift
what is conversion? give examples
a word shifts from one class to another - noun to verb
text, google, network
what is an eponym? give examples
names of a person or company used to define particular objects
what is back formation? give examples
a verb created from an existing noun by removing a suffix
locate (from location), insert (from insertion)
what is amelioration? give examples
a negative word takes on a more positive meaning
nice (foolish), pretty (ugly),
what is archaic? give examples
words that are outdated
fray, giddy
what is descriptivism?
belief that language variations are a positive thing
what is pejoration? give examples
the act of words getting a negative meaning
silly (happy)
