Phonetics And Word Formation Questions Long
Clipping is a process in word formation where a word is shortened by removing one or more syllables. It is a common phenomenon in language where longer words are often shortened to create new, shorter forms. Clipped words are typically used in informal or colloquial contexts and are often easier to pronounce and remember.
There are several types of clipping, including back-clipping, fore-clipping, and middle-clipping.
1. Back-clipping: In back-clipping, the end of a word is removed to create a shorter form. Examples include:
- Advertisement → Ad
- Examination → Exam
- Mathematics → Math
- Laboratory → Lab
2. Fore-clipping: In fore-clipping, the beginning of a word is removed to create a shorter form. Examples include:
- Telephone → Phone
- Refrigerator → Fridge
- Professor → Prof
- Laboratory → Lab
3. Middle-clipping: In middle-clipping, a portion of the word is removed from the middle to create a shorter form. Examples include:
- Fanatic → Fan
- Breakfast → Brekkie
- Television → Telly
- Apartment → Apt
Clipping is a productive process in language, and new clipped words are constantly being created. It is important to note that the meaning of the clipped word is often related to the original word, but it can also develop new meanings or associations over time.