Word formation rules

In short, `word formation’ is the process of making new words from other words or word groups. It forms new vocabulary items through several rules or processes.

Major word formation rules / Major word formation processes are discussed below:

Derivation - Word formation rule:

Derivation is a word formation process/ word formation rule where base form of a word and a derivational affix are attached together and form a new word. Affix includes suffixes and prefixes. They are bound morphemes where morpheme is the smallest meaning unit of a language. Derivation may occur in same grammatical form or different grammatical forms.

Ex: Retaining derivation:

Appear            disappear.

Qualify           disqualify.

Lead               mislead.

Friend               friendship

Companion       companionship.

Changing derivation:

Starve             starvation.

Derive             derivation.

Inform            information.

      Bore               boring

 Code               codify.

Back formation – word formation process:

It is a word formation rule / word formation process where a derivational affix is detached from the base form of a word and forms a new word. Back formation is the opposite process of derivation. It is the result of over generalization of derivational suffixes.

e.g.     Word                            Back formation.

            Gambler                    gamble

            Television                 televise

            Donation                   donate

Eponyms – Word formation process:

It is a word formation process where word is formed from the name of a person who can be real or fictitious.

E.g.      Word                 Person.

            Boycott         Charles C. Boycott.

            Cereal            Ceres.

            Sadistic          Marquis de Sade.

            Sandwich      John Montagu (4th Earl of Sandwich)

            Volcano         Vulcan.

Coinages – Word formation rule:

It is a word formation process / word formation rule where word is formed accidentally or deliberately without using word formation processes.

        e.g.

    Heroin.

    Google.

    Muggle.

    Zipper.

    Escalaton.

Reduplication – word formation process:

In this word formation rule / word formation process new word is created by the repetition of a root. If the full root is repeated, the word formation process is called ‘Complete reduplication’. Wherein if a part of the root is repeated, it is called ‘Partial reduplication’.

E.g. Word formation by complete reduplication:

bye-bye

ha-ha

goddy-goddy

        Word formation by partial reduplication:

Walkie-talkie.

Bow-wow.

Ping-pong.