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
