Phonetics And Word Formation Questions Medium
In the context of word formation, the concept of portmanteau refers to the creation of a new word by combining two or more existing words, where the resulting word carries the meanings and characteristics of its constituent parts. This term was coined by Lewis Carroll in his book "Through the Looking-Glass" to describe the blending of words.
Portmanteau words are formed by merging the sounds and meanings of two or more words to create a single word that represents a combination of their features. This process often involves taking the beginning of one word and combining it with the end of another, or vice versa. The resulting word may retain some or all of the sounds and meanings of its original components.
For example, the word "brunch" is a portmanteau of "breakfast" and "lunch." It combines the initial sounds of "br" from "breakfast" and the ending sounds of "unch" from "lunch." Similarly, the word "smog" is a combination of "smoke" and "fog," blending the meanings and sounds of both words.
Portmanteau words are commonly used in various fields, including technology, popular culture, and everyday language. They allow for concise and creative ways to express new concepts or ideas by combining existing words. Additionally, portmanteau words can often become widely recognized and integrated into the lexicon of a language, further enriching its vocabulary.