Definition:
Word formation is the study of the morphological and lexical processes through which new words are created in a language. Languages constantly expand their lexicons through a limited set of productive processes that combine or modify existing forms.
Major Word Formation Processes
Affixation: Adding prefixes or suffixes to a base word.
- Prefix: rewrite, unhappy, disagree
- Suffix: teacher, happyness, slowly
Compounding: Combining two or more free morphemes into a single word.
- bookshelf, sunburn, brainstorm, blackboard
Conversion (Zero-Derivation): Changing the grammatical category of a word without adding any affix.
- to google (verb from noun), a walk (noun from verb), to email
Blending: Combining parts of two words.
- brunch (breakfast + lunch), smog (smoke + fog), podcast (iPod + broadcast)
Clipping: Shortening an existing word.
- exam (examination), lab (laboratory), flu (influenza), fax (facsimile)
Back-Formation: Creating a new word by removing a real or imagined affix.
- edit (from editor), enthuse (from enthusiasm), donate (from donation)
Acronymy / Initialisation: Forming words from initial letters.
- NASA, JLPT, laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation)
Borrowing: Adopting words from other languages.
- English: kindergarten (German), karaoke (Japanese), piano (Italian)
Word Formation in Japanese
Japanese has highly productive word formation processes:
- Compounding is extremely common: 日本語 (にほんご) = 日本 (Japan) + 語 (language)
- Prefix/suffix derivation: お～ (honorific prefix), ～的 (adjectival suffix), ～化 (verbalization: to become)
- Clipping of borrowed words: テレビ (terebi, from television), パソコン (pasokon, from personal computer)
L2 Vocabulary Learning
Understanding word formation rules allows learners to infer the meanings of unfamiliar words and to expand their active vocabulary productively. A learner who knows the suffix -ness can understand loneliness, darkness, and readiness without explicit instruction.