Morphology: Word Coinage 1.1

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This exercise will familiarize you with various types of word coinage such as borrowings (loan words), acronyms, eponyms, blends, clippings, calques, back formations, and compound words. For a brief review, read our tutorial The Basics of Morphological Processes.

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Question 1

Select the correct type of word coinage for the phrase below. 'hi fi'

A	backformation Hint: 'Hi fi' is an example of clipping from the words 'high' and 'fidelity' in which the orthography of 'high' has been changed and the initial syllable 'fi' is used to represent 'fidelity'.
B	clipping
C	acronym Hint: 'Hi fi' is an example of clipping from the words 'high' and 'fidelity' in which the orthography of 'high' has been changed and the initial syllable 'fi' is used to represent 'fidelity'.

Question 2

Select the correct type of word coinage for the word below. 'quiche'

A	calque Hint: The word 'quiche' is a borrowing/loan word from the French language.
B	borrowing
C	eponym Hint: The word 'quiche' is a borrowing/loan word from the French language.

Question 3

Select the correct type of word coinage for the word below. 'infomercial'

A	borrowing Hint: The word 'infomercial' is a blend since syllables from two words ('information' and 'commercial') are combined to create a new word.
B	blend
C	compound Hint: The word 'infomercial' is a blend since syllables from two words ('information' and 'commercial') are combined to create a new word.

Question 4

Select the correct term for the type of word coinage seen below. 'laser'

A	backformation Hint: 'laser' is an acronym for 'light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation' dating back to the 1960's.
B	clipping Hint: 'laser' is an acronym for 'light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation' dating back to the 1960's.
C	acronym

Question 5

Select the correct term for the type of word coinage seen below. 'intro'

A	backformation Hint: 'intro' is a clipping of the word 'introduction'.
B	clipping
C	acronym Hint: 'intro' is a clipping of the word 'introduction'.

Question 6

Select the correct type of word coinage for the word below. 'arachnid'

A	calque Hint: The word 'arachnid' is classified as a borrowing ( loan word) since it is derived from the Greek word 'arakhne'.
B	eponym Hint: The word 'arachnid' is classified as a borrowing ( loan word) since it is derived from the Greek word 'arakhne'.
C	borrowing

Question 7

Select the correct term for the type of word coinage seen below. 'boycott'

A	blend Hint: The word 'boycott' is an eponym that is taken from Charles C. Boycott, a British land agent in 19th century.
B	compound Hint: The word 'boycott' is an eponym that is taken from Charles C. Boycott, a British land agent in 19th century.
C	eponym

Question 8

Select the correct term for the type of word coinage seen below. 'textbook'

A	compound
B	blend Hint: The word ‘textbook’ is a compound since it is composed of two roots, which both bring lexical content to new formation. More specifically, this would be classified as a noun-noun compounding combination.
C	backformation Hint: The word ‘textbook’ is a compound since it is composed of two roots, which both bring lexical content to new formation. More specifically, this would be classified as a noun-noun compounding combination.

Question 9

Select the correct type of word coinage for the word below. 'edit'

A	back formation
B	blend Hint: 'Edit' is a back formation, dating back to late 18th century. The new word 'edit' was created by extracting the affix-like material '-or' from the word 'editor'.
C	clipping Hint: 'Edit' is a back formation, dating back to late 18th century. The new word 'edit' was created by extracting the affix-like material '-or' from the word 'editor'.

Question 10

Select the correct type of word coinage for the word below. NASA

A	blend Hint: 'NASA' is an acronym, being that it is formed from the initial letters of the full phrase 'National Aeronautics and Space Administration'.
B	acronym
C	clipping Hint: 'NASA' is an acronym, being that it is formed from the initial letters of the full phrase 'National Aeronautics and Space Administration'.

Question 11

Select the correct type of word coinage for the word below. 'kleenex'

A	acronym Hint: 'Kleenex' is an eponym due to its derivation from a proper noun.
B	blend Hint: 'Kleenex' is an eponym due to its derivation from a proper noun.
C	eponym

Question 12

Select the correct type of word coinage for the word below. 'dis'

A	eponym Hint: 'Dis' is a clipping: Reducing the word 'disrespect' to one of its parts.
B	clipping
C	backformation Hint: 'Dis' is a clipping: Reducing the word 'disrespect' to one of its parts.

Question 13

Select the correct type of word coinage for the word below. 'ohm'

A	clipping Hint: 'Ohm' is an eponym since the word (which refers to the standard unit of electrical resistance) is derived from a proper name (German physicist Georg Ohm).
B	calque Hint: 'Ohm' is an eponym since the word (which refers to the standard unit of electrical resistance) is derived from a proper name (German physicist Georg Ohm).
C	eponym

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Morphology: Word Coinage 1.1

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