Word Formation Questions Medium
Clipping is a process of word formation in which a longer word is shortened by removing one or more syllables or letters. This is done to create a new word that is easier to pronounce or write, or to make the word more concise. Clipping is a common phenomenon in English language and is often used in informal or colloquial speech.
There are different types of clipping, including:
1. Back-Clipping: This involves removing the beginning of a word and keeping the end. For example, "advertisement" is clipped to "ad", "television" is clipped to "TV", and "examination" is clipped to "exam".
2. Fore-Clipping: This involves removing the end of a word and keeping the beginning. For example, "refrigerator" is clipped to "fridge", "university" is clipped to "uni", and "information" is clipped to "info".
3. Middle-Clipping: This involves removing a part of the word from the middle and keeping the beginning and end. For example, "mathematics" is clipped to "maths", "policeman" is clipped to "police", and "telephone" is clipped to "phone".
Clipping is often used to create informal or slang words that are easier to use in everyday conversations. It is also commonly used in brand names, such as "FedEx" (clipped from "Federal Express") and "McDonald's" (clipped from "McDonald's Corporation").
Overall, clipping is a process of word formation that involves shortening a longer word by removing syllables or letters, resulting in a new word that is easier to use or more concise.