Morphology: Word Coinage 1.2

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This exercise will familiarize you with various types of word coinage (the creation of new words in a language). Those examined in this exercise are: borrowings (loan words), eponyms, blends, clippings, calques, and back formations. For a brief review, read our tutorial The Basics of Morphological Processes.

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Question 1

Select the type of word coinage displayed the term ‘Navy Seals'.

A	Borrowing Hint: The SEAL’ in ‘Navy Seals’ is an acronym that represents ‘Navy Sea Air Land forces’.
B	Eponym Hint: The SEAL’ in ‘Navy Seals’ is an acronym that represents ‘Navy Sea Air Land forces’.
C	Acronym

Question 2

Select the type of word coinage displayed in the word ‘aficionado’.

A	Calque Hint: ‘Aficionado’ is a load word from Spanish, meaning ‘amateur’, making it a borrowing.
B	Eponym Hint: ‘Aficionado’ is a load word from Spanish, meaning ‘amateur’, making it a borrowing.
C	Borrowing

Question 3

Select the type of word coinage displayed in the word ‘chocoholic’.

A	Acronym Hint: ‘Chocoholic’ is a combination of ‘chocolate’ and ‘alcoholic’, making it a blend.
B	Blend
C	Compound Hint: ‘Chocoholic’ is a combination of ‘chocolate’ and ‘alcoholic’, making it a blend.

Question 4

Select the type of word coinage displayed in the word ‘automate’.

A	Compound Hint: ‘Automate’ was formed when the pseudo suffix ‘tion’ was removed from what was thought to be the root of ‘automation’, thus it is a back formation.
B	Back formation
C	Borrowing Hint: ‘Automate’ was formed when the pseudo suffix ‘tion’ was removed from what was thought to be the root of ‘automation’, thus it is a back formation.

Question 5

Select the type of word coinage displayed in the word ‘Adam’s Apple’.

A	Calque
B	Eponym Hint: ‘Adam’s Apple’ has been borrowed from French as a literal translation ‘pomme d’Adam’ or ‘the apple belonging to Adam’.
C	Borrowing Hint: ‘Adam’s Apple’ has been borrowed from French as a literal translation ‘pomme d’Adam’ or ‘the apple belonging to Adam’.

Question 6

Select the type of word coinage displayed in the word ‘scapegoat’.

A	Borrowing Hint: ‘Scapegoat is the literal translation form Hebrew meaning ‘the goat that escapes’, thus it is a calque.
B	Calque Hint: Eponym

Question 7

Select the type of word coinage displayed in the word ‘limo’.

A	Metonym Hint: ‘Limo’ is an abbreviation of the word ‘limousine’, making it a clipping.
B	Clipping
C	Acronym Hint: ‘Limo’ is an abbreviation of the word ‘limousine’, making it a clipping.

Question 8

Select the type of word coinage displayed in the word ‘burgle’.

A	Back formation
B	Eponym Hint: 'Burgle’ was derived from ‘burglar’ as it was assumed that the 'or' was the agentive marker, such that when it was removed, 'burgle' was thought to be the root (verb). This is a back formation.
C	Clipping Hint: 'Burgle’ was derived from ‘burglar’ as it was assumed that the 'or' was the agentive marker, such that when it was removed, 'burgle' was thought to be the root (verb). This is a back formation.

Question 9

Select the type of word coinage displayed in the word ‘atlas’.

A	Blend Hint: 'Atlas’ was the Greek god of navigation. His name came to mean ‘map’, thus ‘atlas’ is an eponym due to its origin from a proper name.
B	Calque Hint: 'Atlas’ was the Greek god of navigation. His name came to mean ‘map’, thus ‘atlas’ is an eponym due to its origin from a proper name.
C	Eponym

Question 10

Select the type of word coinage displayed in the word ‘malware’.

A	Blend
B	Calque Hint: ‘Malware’ is the combination of ‘malicious’ and ‘software’, making it a blend.
C	Eponym Hint: ‘Malware’ is the combination of ‘malicious’ and ‘software’, making it a blend.

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Morphology: Word Coinage 1.2

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