English for Today
WORD FORMATION PROCESSES
This is concerned with the study of the patterns on which a language forms new words. Like every other language, new words are formed virtually on daily basis in the English language. This lecture series will discuss ten ways through which new words emerge in English.
1. ACRONYMS: They are formed from the initial letters of words, which may constitute the names of some organizations. While some acronyms may retain capital letters, others are reduced to small letters and are pronounced as words. We can categorize acronyms into two:
a) Acronyms pronounced as sequences of letters(otherwise known as alphabetism), e.g.: CD(compact disc), COD(cash on delivery) FBI(Federal Bureau of Investigations)
b) Acronyms pronounced as words:
radar(radio detecting and ranging)
UNESCO(United Nations Educational Scientific and cultural Organizations)
LASU(Lagos State University)