English

Grade 9 • Unit 5: Understanding Words and Expressions

LESSON 5.2
Word Formation

Table of Contents
Introduction 1

Objectives 2

DepEd Competency 2

Warm-Up 2

Learn about It 3
Types of Word Formation 3

Key Points 9

Check Your Understanding 10

Let’s Step Up! 10

Bibliography 11
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Grade 9 • Unit 5: Understanding Words and Expressions

Lesson 5.2
Word Formation

Fig.1. Words are formed depending on the needs of the people using them.

Introduction
As time goes by, words evolve depending on the current trends set by people. There are
words that are familiar to millenials that are odd for those who are probably older than
them. This difference is a result of the dynamic nature of language, which will be explored in
this lesson.

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Grade 9 • Unit 5: Understanding Words and Expressions

Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Arrive at the meaning of words through word formation.
● Explain the meaning of words through word formation (clippin, blending,
acronymy, compounding and folk etymology).

DepEd Competency
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to arrive at the meaning of words
through word formation (clipping, blending, acronymy, compounding, folk
etymology) (EN9V-Ie-f-11).

Warm-Up

Think-Pair-Share
Procedure
1. Read and analyze the conversation with a partner.

Uncle Melo: Tristan, have you seen my retro jacket?

Tristan: I do not think I’m familiar with that sweater, uncle.
Uncle Melo: The leather one.
Tristan: Oh! The swagger jacket? It’s in my closet.
Uncle Melo: I’m pretty sure I’m talking about a retro jacket, not a swaggie or
whatever you call it.

2. Answer the following questions:

a. Why do you think Uncle Melo and Tristan fail to understand each other?

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Grade 9 • Unit 5: Understanding Words and Expressions

b. Were they referring to the same jacket?

c. What words did they use to distinguish the said jacket?

Learn about It
Word formation can denote either a state or a process. It can also be viewed either
diachronically or synchronically. Understanding the different word formation processes
helps us to understand the creation of the English vocabulary.

Vocabulary
word
the ways in which new words are made on the basis of
formation
other words
(noun)

diachronic
through different periods in history
(adjective)

synchronic
at one particular period in time
(adjective)

Essential Question
How can different word formations help in effective communication?

Types of Word Formation

1. Affixation or Derivation – This is the process of adding an affix to a word to create a

different form of that word or a new word with a different meaning. This has two
primary kinds: prefixation or the addition of a prefix and suffixation or the addition

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Grade 9 • Unit 5: Understanding Words and Expressions

of a suffix.

It was very selfish of you to send the old woman away.

It is difficult to regain his trust.
We made sure there will be no disagreement in the proposal.

In these examples, selfish, regaining, and disagreements are words that are formed
using affixes. Selfish is a combination of the root word self and the suffix -ish; regain is
a combination of the root word gain and the prefix re-; and disagreement is a
combination of the root word agree and the prefix dis- and suffix -ment.

2. Coinage – This is the invention of totally new terms. Invented trade names are typical
examples.

Do you have any aspirin with you?

Aspirin is derived from the words acetylation and Spirsäure or salicylic acid, which
are primary chemicals that are used to make aspirin.

My mother would often use Teflon cookware.

Teflon is a shortened term for tetrafluoron. It is a type of plastic that does not have a
reaction with other substances.

I cannot pull my zipper up.

The origin of the word zipper comes from the word zip-fastener or a slide fastener.

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Grade 9 • Unit 5: Understanding Words and Expressions

3. Borrowing – This is the process of taking words from other languages.

We find sleeping in a futon very comfortable.

The word futon is a Japanese word which means “bedclothes, bedding.”

Making a slogan for Buwan ng Wika has been a challenging task.

The word slogan is an alteration of Scots slogorne, “battle cry.

The catering will have a smorgasbord of cheese and crackers.

The word smorgasbord is a Swedish word which literally means “bread and butter
table.”

4. Compounding – This refers to the process of joining two or more independent

words to produce a new form. Here are some examples of words that use
compounding.

fireplace (fire + place)

mailman (mail + man)
fingerprint (finger + print)

5. Blending – This is a process of creating a new word by combining the parts of two
different words, usually the beginning of one word and the end of another.

The family spent the night in a motel before heading off in the morning.

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Grade 9 • Unit 5: Understanding Words and Expressions

The word motel is a blending of the words motor and hotel. It is a place where
travelers usually stay for a short period of time before they head off to their intended
destination.

Do not forget to bring the camcorder to the party.

Camcorder is a combination of the words camera and recorder. Camcorders are

usually used for video recordings.

I love french toast and scrambled eggs for brunch.

Brunch is a combination of the words breakfast and lunch. It is a meal that is usually
eaten after breakfast and before lunch.

6. Clipping – This involves reduction of syllables in a word. New words are created by
shortening parts of a longer word. Examples of words that are clipped are:

flu (influenza)
ad (advertisement)
fax (facsimile)

7. Backformation – This is another special kind of reduction where a word of one type
(may be a noun) is reduced to another word of another type (may be a verb).

I did not know that the interview would be televised.

The kids donate toys and clothes every Christmas season.
When our house was burgled, we noticed that the thief opened the door by

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Grade 9 • Unit 5: Understanding Words and Expressions

force.

Televise is a backformation of the word television, donate is a backformation of the

word in, and burgle is a backformation of the word burglar. These words are used as
verbs in these sentences.

8. Conversion or Functional Shift – In this process, new words are often formed by
changing an existing word from one part of speech to another.

a. Noun to verb

The wine was brewed in France but bottled in Hong Kong.

b. Verb to noun

It is a must for you to visit your parents.

c. Adjective to noun

Stop shouting and running around like a crazy.

d. Adjective to noun

Can you empty the bin for me, please?

9. Acronymy – In this type, new words are formed from the initial letters of a set of
words.

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Grade 9 • Unit 5: Understanding Words and Expressions

I cannot find the CD I bought three years ago. (compact disc)

My classmates are looking for ways to collaborate with UNICEF.
Scientists tried to shoot lasers on the manmade moon panels.

CD means compact disc, UNICEF stands for The United Nations Children’s Fund, and
laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.

10. Folk Etymology – This refers to the changing of a word or a phrase over time which
results from the replacement of an unfamiliar form by a more familiar one.

He is a very dashing bridegroom.

Bridegroom is an Old English word bryd-guman, which means “a man who is about to
get married or a newly-married man.”

11. Reduplication – This is a process of forming new words by doubling either an entire
word (total reduplication) or part of a word (partial reduplication). Take a look at the
following examples:

The kids wanted to have a set of walkie-talkies so they could communicate.

The exam was just so-so. I am not sure how I will fare in it.
I’d love to stay and chit chat but I’m in a hurry.

12. Echoism or Onomatopoeia – In this type, new words are formed by imitating
sounds. Take a look at these examples:

splash roar click

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Grade 9 • Unit 5: Understanding Words and Expressions

Let’s Check In!

Identify the type of word formation used in the following words:
1. DVD
2. cellphone
3. mic

Key Points

● Word formation refers to the ways in which new words are made on the basis of
other words.

● Types of word formation include:

○ affixation or derivation
○ coinage
○ borrowing
○ compounding
○ blending
○ clipping
○ backformation
○ conversion or functional shift
○ acronymy
○ folk etymology
○ reduplication
○ echoism or onomatopoeia

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Grade 9 • Unit 5: Understanding Words and Expressions

Check Your Understanding

Identify the type of word formation used in the following words and use
it in a sentence.

1. emoticon — _____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. millennial — _____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. boondocks — _____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

4. WiFi — _____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

5. tsunami — _____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Let’s Step Up!

Form a group with three members and create a skit using at least three types of
word formation. Use the following prompt as basis for your skit:

How will you explain millennial terms to your grandparents?

Present the skit in class.

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Grade 9 • Unit 5: Understanding Words and Expressions

Bibliography

Maddox, Maeve. 30 Words Inspired by 29 People and an Elephant. Daily Writing Tips. 2014.
Accessed May 25, 2017.
https://www.dailywritingtips.com/30-words-inspired-by-29-people-and-an-elephant/

Nordquist, Richard. An Introduction to Etymology: Word Stories. The Surprising Origins of

Everyday Words. 2017. Accessed May 25, 2017.
https://www.thoughtco.com/etymology-word-stories-1692654

Nordquist, Richard. Types of Word Formation in English. 2017. Accessed May 25, 2017.
https://www.thoughtco.com/word-formation-1692501

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