Derivation

Stem Formation

Derivational Processes

I. Affixation

B. Suffixation

1. English

2. Kurdish (Near Eastern)

3. Hanunoo (Philippines)

C. Infixation

1. Bontoc (Philippines)

2. Tagalog

B. Partial

1. Tzeltal (Mayan language, Chiapas, Mexico)

III. Internal Modification (including ablaut)

1. English

song/sing tooth/teethe breath/breathe house (n)/house (v)

2. Latin

IV. Zero-derivation or Functional Shift Changing the part of speech of a stem without changing its form

dance laugh run buy steal position contact contrast

V. Compounding Forming a new stem by putting together two or more existing stems

blackbird freeway airconditioner mother-in-law

VI. Acronym and Initialism Forming stems by taking the initial sounds or letters of the words of a phrase and uniting them into a new combination, pronounced as letters (initialisms) or as word-like sequences (acronyms)

NATO < North Atlantic Treaty Organization

laser < light amplification through the stimulated emission of radiation

USA < United States of America

WSU < Washington State University

Wazzu < Washington State University

VII. Blending Combining parts of two stems

breakfast + lunch = brunch

smoke + fog = smog

chuckle + snort = chortle

VIII. Borrowing Absorbing foreign words into the language

taco cashmere elite jihad

IX. Clipping Shortening stems by deleting one or more syllables from the periphery of the word

exam < examination

dorm < dormitory

taxi, cab < taxi cab < taximeter cabriolet

X. Coinage Creating words or stems without any preexisting basis for the creation

pooch Kodak google blurb

XI. Back Formation Forming new stems on the basis of analogy from apparently complex words

creation:create::donation:X X=donate

revision:revise::television:X X = televise

XII. Morphological Misanalyis (Folk Etymology) Introducing new morphemes on the basis of a historically incorrect internal analysis of words

-burger (<hamburger < Hamburger steak) and so...cheeseburger/pizzaburger/steakburger/baconburger

-(a)holic (<alcoholic (alcohol + ic)) and so...workaholic/sugarholic