Phonetics And Word Formation Questions Medium
Backformation is a process in word formation where a new word is created by removing what appears to be an affix from an existing word. It involves the creation of a shorter word by removing a supposed affix from a longer word, even though the affix may not actually exist in the original word. This process typically occurs when speakers mistakenly analyze a word as having a derivational affix, leading to the creation of a new word.
For example, the noun "editor" was backformed from the noun "editorial" by removing the supposed suffix "-ial." Similarly, the verb "televise" was backformed from the noun "television" by removing the supposed suffix "-ion." In both cases, the backformed words were created based on the assumption that the longer words contained derivational affixes, even though they did not.
Backformation is a common process in language evolution and has contributed to the creation of numerous words in English. It is often driven by the need for shorter and more efficient words, and it can occur in various parts of speech, including nouns, verbs, and adjectives.