英语构词法
Word Formation
* The expansion of vocabulary in modern
English depends chiefly on word-formation.
Affixation (词缀法) 30%-40%
Compounding (复合法、合成法) 28%-
30%
Conversion (转类法) 26% Shortening/Clipping (缩略法)8%- 10%
Blending (拼缀法) 1%-5% Acronymy (首字母拼音法)
I. Affixation: the formation of words by
adding affixes to the bases (stems). (前缀): do not generally change the
word- class of the bases but only modify
its meaning.
不改变词性,改变词义
Suffixes (后缀): change the word class with a
slight modification of meaning.
改变词性,不(略微)改变
词义
1. Prefixes
(1) Negative prefixes : 否定前缀
dis--- dislike, disagree, disallow, disunite,
disinterested, disobey, disorder
in(ir, im, il)--- illiterate, illegal, immature,
inaudible, injustice, irregular, irresponsible
non--- nonhuman, nonsmoking, non-violence
un--- unimportant, unknown, unwilling,
unsmiling, unable
(de--- deforest, desalt, devalue, destruction)
(2) Pejorative prefixes: 贬义前缀
mis--- mislead, mistrust, misunderstand
mal--- maltreat, malformed, malpractice
pseudo--- pseudocide, pseudocode,
pseudonym, pseudograph
(3) Prefixes of Degree or Size: 表示程度大
小的前缀
co--- co-star, co-author, cohabit, co-worker
extra--- extra-large, extra-strong, extra-bright
macro--- macrostructure, macroeconomics,
micro--- microsurgery, microfilm, microwave,
microcomputer
mini---minibus, minicamera, mini-market,
mini-bikini
over---overexcited, overweight, over-anxious,
overestimate
under--- under-age, underbred, underdo,
undermanned
ultra--- ultraclean, ultracritical, ultraism,
ultraleft, ultrasonic
super---, ser---,
(4) Prefixes of Orientation & Attitude 表示
方向态度的前缀
anti--- anti-aging, anti-nuclear, anti-climax,
anti-government
counter--- counter-accuse, counterclockwise,
counterattack
pro--- proabortion, pro-common market
(5) Locative prefixes: 表示位置的前缀
extra--- extramarital, extraterrestrial
inter--- interbreeding, interpersonal, interstate
super--- superstructure, superscript
tele--- telescope, telecommunication,
telegram,telepathy
trans--- translate, transform, transplant,
transatlantic
(6) Prefix of Time and Order: 表示时间顺序
的前缀
ex--- ex-lover, ex-husband, ex-convict,
ex-president
fore--- foresee, forethought, foreknowledge,
forefathers,forecast
post--- post-war, post-independence,
post-colonial
pre--- prebiotic, precollege, precondition,
predate, prehistoric
re--- re-edit, retry, relive, remake
(7) Number prefixes: 表示数目的前缀
semi--- demi--- hemi--- : semi-naked,
semi-automatic, semi-skilled
uni--- mono--- uniform, unicolor, unicorn,
monoculture, monologue
bi--- di---: bicycle, bilingual, bilateral,
bimonthly, diameter, dialogue
tri--- triangle, tricolor, trilogy
multi--- poly--- : multi-purpose, multitechnic,
multi-industry, polysyllabic, polyatomic
centi--- centigrade, centimeter
milli--- milliliter, milligram
2. Suffixes 后缀
(1) Noun suffix 名词后缀
--eer, ---er/---ee, ----or, ---ist, ---ess, ---let,
---age, ---dom, ---hood, ---ism, ---ship,
---ment, ---ity, ---ness, ---ation, ---ese,
---- ful (a tableful of, a mouthful of…)
(2) Adjective suffixes 形容词后缀
---ful, ---ish, ---like, ---less, ---y, ---al,
---ic, ---ous, ---ative, ---ble
(3) Adverb suffixes 副词后缀
---ward(s), ---wise, ---ly
(4) Verb suffixes 动词后缀
---ate, ---en, ---ize, ---ify
II. Compounding: the formation of new
words by joining two or more bases.
-----Solid: silkworm
-----Hyphenated: honey-bee
-----Open: tear gas
1. Noun compound
n + n: moonwalk, end product, match-maker,
safety-belt, daydream, lighthouse, airspace
n + v: toothache, handshake, daybreak
v + n: telltale, crybaby, push-button,
watchdog
a + n: deadline, blueprint
n + v-ing: brainwashing, air-conditioning,
sunbathing, housekeeping, sleep-walking
v-ing + n: hiding place, sewing machine,
dancing girl, laughing stock,
walking dictionary, writing desk,
chewing gum, investigating
committee, walking stick
v + adv: sit-in, have-not, breakthrough
2. Adjective compound
n + v-ing: record-breaking, brainwashing
n + v-ed: weather-bitten, panic-stricken
a + v-ing: easy-going, high-sounding,
good-looking,
n + a: snow-white, tax-free
a + a: deaf-mute, bitter-sweet,
socio-ecnomic
n (a) + n-ed: short-sighted, lion-hearted,
num + n: ten-storey, four-leg
num +n-ed: one-eyed, two-legged adv + v-ing: outgoing, everlasting,
far-reaching
3. Verb compound
(1) Through conversion
nickname------to nickname honeymoon-------to honeymoon
moonlight------to moonlight
(2) Through backformation
lip-reading-----to lip-read chain-smoker ------to chain-smoke
mass production-----to mass-produce
Sight-seeing------ to sight-see
babysitter --- babysit
4. long compounds
take-home-pay
a pain-in-stomach gesture
do-it-yourself
a too-eager-not-to-lose champion
round-the-clock discussion
III. Conversion: the formation of new words
by converting words from one class to
another.
n---v, n--- adj, v---adj
Eg: ten-year-old, newborns, two
unknowns, advice--- advise, record---
record
Eg: I eat what I can, I can what I can’t.
This argument contains too many ifs
and buts.
Life is full of ups and downs.
The photograph yellowed with age.
I’m one of his familiars.
He wolfed down his lunch.
Rubber gloves are a must if your skin
is sensitive to washing powder.
IV. Blending: the formation of words by
combining parts of two words or a word
plus a part of another word.
Eg: hifi (high + fidelity) chocoholic (chocolate + alcoholic)
Workaholic, shopaholic
Eurasia (Europe + Asia)
comsat (communication + satellite)
brunch (breakfast + lunch)
bikethon (bike + marathon)
talkathon (talk+ marathon)
eggwich (egg+sandwich)
motel (motor + hotel) airtel, botel
lottizen (lottery + citizen) netizen (net + citizen)
sit-com (situation+ comedy)
medicare docudrama
V. Clipping: the formation of words by
cutting a part off the original and using
what remains instead.
quake (earthquake) copter (helicopter)
disco (discotheque) gent (gentleman)
flu (influenza) fridge (refrigerator)
jams (pajamas ) pop (popular music)
pub (public house) perm (permanent
wave) gym (gymnasia)
ad, dorm, lab, gas, plane, phone, prof., coke,vegan (vegetarian)
VI. Acronymy: the process of forming new
words by joining the initial letters of
technical terms.
VOA P.C. (post card) UFO (unidentified flying object) ID (identity card) PK (playkilling,Player Kill 单挑; Private Key 内线电键, 专用电键)
M.A. (Master of Arts) B.M.E. (Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering)
VIP WHO Kg ASAP FBI
N-bomb: nuclear bomb
G-man: government man
V-day: victory day
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
VII. Commonization of Proper Names:
names of people, places, books or
trademarks.
Eg: 1.How can such a disgusting yahoo really have charm and style?
2. The Christian heaven can be seen
as a sort of spiritual Utopia. (Thomas More)
3. Simply because a black person is polite
to white people doesn’t make him or her guilty of Uncle Tomism.
4. Since then, he has become her Man
Friday.
5. John felt proud when he put his
John Hancock on his very first driver’s license.
6. The joke you told is as old as Adam,
but I still think it’s funny.
7. Please xerox this letter for me.
(hoover, kleenex, google…)
Some roots
hydr/hydro: water hydropower, dehydrate, hydropsychotherapy
manu/man: hand manufacture, manuscript, manual
port: to carry import, export, portable, porter
homo: same homocentric, homosexual
hetero: different heterosexual, heterogeneous
bene: good, well benefit, benefactor, benedictory
ann: year annual, anniversary
bio/bi: life biography, autobiography, biochemistry
anim: life animal, animate
act: to do, to drive activity, activate, interact
cred: to believe incredible, credulous
pathy: feeling or disease sympathy,
antipathy,
mort: death mortal, immortal
psych: mind psychology, psychoanalysis viv: life vivid, survive, revive
gam: marriage monogamy, polygamy