Major and Minor Ways of English Word Formation

Affixation

 

Key words: derivational affix, suffix, prefix, derivational (underlying) base, selectional rule, steps (degrees) of derivation, native and Neo-Latin bases of affixation, word formation affixal field, semi-affix, morphonological change.

Look up these terms in the glossary or in the sources indicated in the bibliography to the glossary. Compare the definitions given in English and in Russian.

 

 

Problems for Discussion

 

1. The derivational status of an affix. Derivational vs. inflectional morphology. Problems and solutions.

2. Derivation on the native and neo-Latin bases in present-day English.

3. Selectional rules and derivational affixal patterns.

4. Productivity and activity of affixal derivational patterns.

5. Affixal word formation fields.

6. Correlative word formation fields and patterns in English and Belarusian (Russian, German, French, etc.) languages.

 

 

Questions and Tasks

 

1. Study the following words and say in which of them the affix is a derivational one: redeem, redefine, ardent, dependent, educator, alligator, harmonious, vivacious, intake, inspect, desurface, destroy, appreciative, derogative. Find your own examples of analogous words.

2. Study the following pairs of words and group them. Define the difference between the groups: create – creation, eliminate – elimination, dominate – domination, farm – farming, clean – cleaning, question – questioning, polite – politeness, separate – separateness, persuade – persuasive, submit – submissive. Comment on the etymology of the derivational affixes used in the above given derivatives and on the way of borrowing affixes.

3. Write down the derivational formulae of the following words: unpretentiousness, malodorousness, trades-unionist, nuclear-physicist, desynonymize, misappreciation, unpleasantness. Use two ways of notation.

4. Analyze the derivational structure of the following words and say how many steps of derivation they have undergone: indisputableness, unknowableness, irresponsiveness, unseaworthyness, theatricalization, revitalization, dehydrogenizer, librarianess, petticoatless. Find your own examples of words of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. degrees of derivation.

5. Study the rows of derivatives with the affixes anti-, non-, re-, un-, -able, ed, -er, -ish, -ism, -like. Use dictionaries, including the reverse ones, for the purpose.

6. Comment on the phonological, morphological, semantic properties of derivational bases with which the affixes anti-, non-, re-, un-, -able, -ed, -er, -ish, -ism, -like go into combination.

7. Give examples of productive, semi-productive and non-productive derivational patterns in present-day English word formation.

8. Give examples of active and non-active affixal patterns in present-day English word formation.

9. Name the English affixes of negation, resemblance, state and quality. Find the correlative affixes in Belarusian, Russian, German, French, etc.

10. Compare the groups of derivatives with the English suffixes -an, -er, -ist and other agentive suffixes with the groups of derivatives with the Russian agentive suffixes -тель, -ник, -арь, -щик and others. Comment on their differences and similarities.

 

 

Recommended Reading

Obligatory

Английская лексикология в выдержках и извлечениях / C.С. Хидекель [и др.]. – Л.: Просвещение. Ленингр. oтд-ние, 1969. – C. 86–166.

Арнольд, И.В. Лексикология современного английского языка / И.В. Арнольд; на англ. яз. – 3-е изд. – М.: Высш. шк., 1986. – C. 87–107.

Лексикология английского языка / Р.З. Гинзбург [и др.]; на англ. яз. – 2-е изд., испр. и доп. – М.: Высш. шк., 1979. – C. 95–114.

Смирницкий, А.И. Лексикология английского языка / А.И. Смирницкий. – М.: Изд-во лит. на иностр. яз., 1956. – С. 102–114.

Харитончик, З.А. Лексикология английского языка / З.А. Харитончик. – Минск: Вышэйш. шк., 1992. – С. 149–165.

Isitt, D. Crazic, Menty and Idiotal. An Inquiry into the Use of Suffixes -al, -ic, -ly and -y in Modern English / D. Isitt // Словообразование в английском языке: Хрестоматия по лексикологии английского языка / сост. З.А. Харитончик, И.В. Ключникова. – Минск: МГЛУ, 2005. – С. 55–68.

 

Optional

Kastovsky, D. Lexical Fields and Word Formation / D. Kastovsky // Словообразование в английском языке: Хрестоматия по лексикологии английского языка / сост. З.А. Харитончик, И.В. Ключникова. – Минск: МГЛУ, 2005. – С. 69 – 76.

Lieber, R. Morphology and Lexical Semantics / R. Lieber // Словообразование в английском языке: Хрестоматия по лексикологии английского языка / сост. З.А. Харитончик, И.В. Ключникова. – Минск: МГЛУ, 2005. – С. 169 – 183.

 

 

Conversion

 

Key words: zero derivation, conversion, functional change (shift), root formation, non-affixal word formation, morphological paradigm, direction of derivation, semantic relations.

Look up these terms in the glossary or in the sources indicated in the bibliography to the glossary. Compare the definitions given in English and in Russian.

 

 

Problems for Discussion

 

1. Love – to love, to run – a run: a way of derivation or a functional shift?

2. The definition of the derivation device in various theories: zero-derivation, non-affixal word formation, conversion, morphological, syntactic, morphological-syntactic way of word formation.

3. The domain of zero derivation and its results: adjectivization, substantivization, occasional conversion, root formation.

4. Derivative relations in conversion pairs and criteria of their directionality.

5. Semantic relations in conversion pairs and their propositional basis.

 

 

Questions and Tasks

 

1. Сompare the wordforms given below and say morphological paradigms of what words they are members of: (a bottle’s) cork – cork (the bottle), (an initial) step – initial (the memo), (a grey) wig – wig (the actress), (an old) tree – tree (the avenue), (long) marches – (the soldiers) marched.

2. Compare the following derivative verbs and define the difference in the way they were coined: jail (the prisoner) – imprison (the thief), hospitalize (the patient) – volunteer (the information). Find analogous examples.

3. Analyze the morphemic structure of the following verbs and name the shortcomings of the root formation theory: wallpaper the wall, spraypaint the door, tar-and-feather the prisoner, tea-cosy the pot, sidetrack the detective. Find your own examples of the verbs of similar structure.

4. Study the relations between words in the following pairs and say which of them is the basic one and which is derived: rake n – rake v, farm n – farm v, tail n – tail v, bicycle n – bicycle v, show n – show v, answer n – answer v, mature adj – mature v, gossip n – gossip v, wet adj – wet v, clean adj – clean v, drive n – drive v. Name the criteria you have used.

5. Find examples of verbs derived from nouns which have the following types of meaning: cover (as in carpet the floor, varnish the furniture), deprive of cover (as in skin the rabbit, shell the peanuts), locate (as in ground the planes, shelter the fugitives), act as an agent or an experiencer (as in nurse the patient, shepherd the sheep, witness the accident), act as an instrument (nail the board, mouth the words, plane the wood smooth).

6. Define the semantic relations in the following pairs of words: catch v – catch n, rub v – rub n, say v – say n, drive v – drive n, find v – find n, run v – run n, ride v – ride n. Find analogous examples.

7. Analyze the structural and semantic properties of the following words and explain why the formation of verbs on their basis is not welcome: baker, farmer, banker, driver, hospital, Dodge, Ford, spring, fall (autumn), Fourth-of-July, Saturday. Find your own examples of unwelcome verbs and nouns.

8. Analyze the structure and semantics of Russian verbs лопатить, утюжить, партизанить, German nouns Leben, Bad, Gähnen. Find analogous examples in the languages you know and say what type of derivation they represent.

 

 

Recommended Reading

Obligatory

Английская лексикология в выдержках и извлечениях / C.С. Хидекель [и др.]. – Л.: Просвещение. Ленингр. oтд-ние, 1969. – C. 154 – 158.

Арнольд, И.В. Лексикология современного английского языка / И.В. Арнольд; на англ. яз. – 3-е изд. – М.: Высш. шк., 1986. – C. 153–164.

Лексикология английского языка / Р.З. Гинзбург [и др.]; на англ. яз. – 2-е изд., испр. и доп. – М.: Высш. шк., 1979. – C. 127–140.

Смирницкий, А.И. Лексикология английского языка / А.И. Смирницкий. – М.: Изд-во лит. на иностр. яз., 1956. – С. 71–83, 99–100.

Харитончик, З.А. Лексикология английского языка / З.А. Харитончик. – Минск: Вышэйш. шк., 1992. – С. 166–176.

Aronoff, M. When Nouns Surface as Verbs / M. Aronoff // Словообразование в английском языке: Хрестоматия по лексикологии английского языка / сост. З.А. Харитончик, И.В. Ключникова. – Минск: МГЛУ, 2005. – С. 94–159.

Marchand, H. A Set of Criteria for the Establishing of Derivational Relationship between Words Unmarked by Derivational Morphemes / H. Marchand // Словообразование в английском языке: Хрестоматия по лексикологии английского языка / сост. З.А. Харитончик, И.В. Ключникова. – Минск: МГЛУ, 2005. – С. 77–86.

 

Optional

Cоболева, П.А. Словообразовательные отношения по конверсии между глаголом и отглагольным существительным в современном английском языке: автореф. дис.... канд. филол. наук: 10.02.04 / П.А. Соболева; Моск. гос. пед. ин-т иностр. яз. – М., 1959.

 

 

Word Composition

 

Key words: compounds proper, derivational compounds, idiomatic/non-idiomatic compounds.

Look up these terms in the glossary or in the sources indicated in the bibliography to the glossary. Compare the definitions given in English and in Russian.

 

 

Problems for Discussion

 

1. Criteria for distinguishing a compound word from a word phrase (graphical, phonetical, morphological, semantic).

2. Structural classification of compounds from the point of view of their immediate constituents (ICs).

3. Derivational types of compounds: compounds proper and derivational compounds. Derivational patterns of compounds proper: n+n dress-maker, a+n bluebell, v+n flywheel, adv+n in-patient, prt+v upkeep, prt+n onlooker, num+n two-step, v+v hearsay, v+adv(a) standstill, n+a pea-green, adv+a upright, a+a white-hot, a+adv nearby, v+n hangdog, n+(v+ -en) tongue-tired, prt+(v+ -en) bygone, adv+(v+ -en) freshly-lit, prt+(v+ -ing) outstanding, n +(v+ -ing) peace-loving, adv+(v+ -ing) far-seeing.

4. Derivational patterns of derivational compounds: (v+prt)+0 lay-off, (v+ -er)+prt passer-by, (v+ -ing)+prt summing-up, (num+n)+ -er four-wheeler, (a+n)+ -ed simple-minded, (n+n)+ -ed life-sized, (num+n)+ -ed four-footed, (v+prt)+0 knock-about, (v+ -en)+prt worn-out, (adv+n)+ -ed down-hearted. Productivity and activity of derivational patterns.

5. Compounds proper and derivational compounds vs. derivatives built on a compound derivational base.

6. Syntactic relations between the constituents of a compound word (resemblance, relations of purpose, place, time, partitive, instrumental, possessive, agentive relations, etc.).

7. Semantic classification of compounds: non-idiomatic (motivated), partially idiomatic (partially motivated) and idiomatic (non-motivated) compounds.

 

 

Questions and Tasks

 

1. Making use of the criteria for differentiation, state whether the following units represent compounds or word-phrases: sea-shore, green grass, child’s play, door-handle, pale blue, settled opinion, grass-green, outcome, call-girl, good to drink, way back, page three, page-turner, surgically clean, to sell for cash, as good as gold, hold-up, winding passage, standstill, speakeasy, newly-born, milk-white, fine month, twelvemonth, twelve months, knock-about, red-hot, red tulips, nearby, upbringing, good for nothing, do-gooder, upright.

Comment on the criteria or the criterion you have applied.

2. Identify the derivational type of the following compound words and write down their structural patterns: bedroom, hot-tempered, stone-cold, sunglasses, homesick, broad-minded, ready-made, skating-rink, first-rate, cold-blooded, water-proof, street-fighter, whereabouts, dirt-cheap, moreover, rainbow, sky-blue, straightforward, wrong-sided, earthquake, offspring, four-wheeler, house-keeper, deadline, life-sized.

3. Give your own examples of compounds built on the following derivational patterns: n+n, a+n, adv+n, prt+n, prt+v, num+n, v+v, n+a, a+a, n+(v+ -en), adv+a, a+adv, v+n, v+(prt)+0, (num+n)+ -er, (a+n)+ -ed, (n+n)+ -ed, (v+ -en)+prt, (adv+v)+ -ed. Say which of the patterns are productive and which are not and give your arguments.

4. Identify the derivational type of the following words: absentmindedness, lipstick, to babysit, early-riser, schoolmasterish, newcomer, four-wheeler, a breakdown, sunflower, music-lover, old worldish, first-nighter, headache, cinema-goer, honeymooner, grandfatherly, broadshouldered, a brainstorm, evildoer, to braindrain, weight-conscious, newlyweds.

5. Translate the following sentences into Russian. State the derivational type of the underlined words:

“There shall be no beggar-marriages in my family,” the father cried out.

Serious-faced James Howden entered the high-ceilinged, beige-carpeted Privy Council Chamber.

It was a lived-in, worked-in scholar’s cubicle. There were jammed bookshelves from floor to ceiling.

Judson’s head snapped up, his blue eyes hooding with suspicion. Donald had sounded almost schoolmasterish.

The BBC television comedy series “Yes, Minister” has proved to be more than a delight. It has also been an eye-opener.

This book is an absolute page-turner.

Unless you have a brainstorm, I don’t see how we are going to get out of this.

6. Define the type of relations between the constituents of the following compounds: earring, snow-white, colour-blind, frost-bitten, shop-owner, daylight, ice-breaker, holiday-maker, seasick, narrow-minded, finger-ring, life-sized, homemade, spring-cleaning, grass-green, sugar-free, schoolmaster, sunset, fair-haired, deck-chair, world-wide.

7. Say whether the following compounds are motivated, partially motivated or non-motivated (idiomatic): bathroom, housewife, bluebell, tallboy, sunshine, chatterbox, waterfall, lady-killer, horse-race, weekend, flower-bed, eye-opener, highlight, swimming-pool, landslide, page-turner, sun-blinds, brainwash, fortune-teller, dishwasher, good-looking, easy-going, lazybones, ladybird.

8. Read the following jokes and say how the humorous effect is achieved:

Patient. They say, doctor, you are a perfect lady-killer.

Doctor. Oh, no, no! I assure you, my dear madam, I make no difference between the sexes.

Customer. Is this lipstick waterproof and sunproof?

Shop assistant. Yes, madam. And it’s also kissproof.

A young girl. My room has looked crammed since I acquired a tallboy.

Her elderly neighbour. You should have found a shorter one, darling.

 

 

Recommended Reading

Obligatory

Арнольд, И.В. Лексикология современного английского языка / И.В. Арнольд; на англ. яз. – 3-е изд. – М.: Высш. шк., 1986. – C. 108–133.

Лексикология английского языка / Р.З. Гинзбург [и др.]; на англ. яз. – 2-е изд., испр. и доп. – М.: Высш. шк., 1979. – C. 127–140.

Смирницкий, А.И. Лексикология английского языка / А.И. Смирницкий. – М.: Изд-во лит. на иностр. яз., 1956. – С. 114–137.

Харитончик, З.А. Лексикология английского языка / З.А. Харитончик. – Минск: Вышэйш. шк., 1992. – С. 177–188.

 

Optional

Кубрякова, Е.С. О сложных словах эквифинального типа в современном английском языке / Е.С. Кубрякова // Вопросы структуры английского языка в синхронии и диахронии. – Л., 1985. – Вып. 5: Слово и предложение в структурно-семантическом аспекте. – C. 144 – 155.

Никошкова, Е.В. Соотносительность сложных слов и словосочетаний: На материале английского языка / Е.В. Никошкова // Учен. зап. Моск. гос. ин-та иностр. яз. им. М. Тореза. – М., 1969. – Т. 52. – С. 395–415.