An Introduction of word—formation

Shi Dongdong

Abstract：As we all know ，English is considered as an international language ，to learn English well means intergrateing into this fast-developing society .With new words flooding ，sometimes we may have troubles remembering it . Linguists predict that ： in 5 0 years， English vocabulary will be more than 5， 000， 000 . So ， how to memorize these vast number of new words scientifically and efficiently ？

This article will introduce some common methods of memorizing words in morphlogical area.It consists of three chapters.The first chapter will introduce the defination of word-formation，the second chapter will demonstrate the benefit of learning word-formation，the third chapter will present the four methods of learning word-formation.

Keywords： word formation；memorize；words

1.Word - formation

Word - formation is an important means of vocabulary enlargement.It includesderivation，compounding，

conversion， affixation ，composition and so on . To understand the knowledge of word formation can help us memorize new words efficiently .

2. The benefits of learning word-formation

Firstly， it will enlarge your vocubulary.Secondly， you can understand the meaning more thoroughly. Thridly，it can help develop the ability to use and recite words.

3.1. Derivation

3.1.1 defination

Derivation is a short form of a word or phrase， made by adding a prefix at the beginning a root ，or by adding suffix at the end of a root， then produces a new word which is similar or opposite means to the original word.

3.1.2 a prefix

A prefix is a letter or group of letters， for example， "un-" ， "multi-" and so on，added to the beginning of a word in order to form a different word. Most prefix change the word's meaning but not the word class. For example， the prefix "un-" is added to "happy" to form "unhappy" ， means you are sad and depressed .Here are some examples related to prefix ：

agree--disagree possible--impossible

understand--misunderstand able-unable

There are also some prefix that have other meanings but not the opposite meanings ， e.g.

co--coworker （co-refer to people sharing things together）

re--rewrite（re-refer to the repating of an action or process）

sub--subway （sub-under）

3.1.3 a suffix

A suffix is a letter or group of letters， for example "-ly" or "-ness，" which is added to the end of a word in order to form a different word class.For example， the suffix "-ly" is added to "quick " to form quickly， changing it from an adjective to an adverb.

Here are some examples related to suffix：

compete--competition（n） differ--difference（n）

music--musician（n） most-mostly（adv）

Some suffix can change one word into a verb：

wide--widen beauty--beautify

real--realize popular-populize

Besidess，some suffix can change one word into an adjective，here are some suffix and examples：

al-， able- ，en- ，ful- ，-y， less-

help-helpful （ful）， nation-national （al）

noise-noisy （y）， harm-harmless（less）

3.2 Compounding

3.2.1. Definition

Compounding is a process of word formation by which two or more stems are put together to make one word. The word formed in this way is called compounding.

3.2.2 Compound nouns：

N+N weekend N+V daybreak

N+prep+N sister-in-law V+N reading room

3.2.3 Compound adjectives：

N+adj bloodred adj+N high quality

Adv+adj ever-green adv+ing hard-working

Adv+ed well-known adv+n fast-food

3.2.4 compound verbs：

n+v sleep-walk adj+v white-wash

3.3 Conversion

3.3.1 Definition

Conversion is the formation of new words by converting words of one part of speech to the words of another part of speech， without changes in morphological structures. Words created are new only in a grammatical sense.

Types of conversion

3.3.2 Conversion to Nouns

A. verb to noun.

e.g. I think we'd better finish the talk now.

B. adjective to noun

3.3.3 Conversion to Verbs

a. noun to verb

e.g.Have you booked the ticket？

b. adjective to verb

3.4 Clipping

3.4.1 Definition

Clipping is to shorten a long word by cutting a part off the original and use what has remained as a word.

3.4.2 Types of Clipping

（1）Front clipping： 'phone' from telephone

（2）Back clipping： 'ad' from advertisement

（3）Front and back clipping： 'flu' from influenza