Blending is anything but a new phenomenon in the English language. This is proven by the fact that the word brunch, which is one of the most widely known blends, was first recorded in 1896 - more than 100 years ago (Quinion 2014). However, only over the last couple of decades has blending become a very popular word-formation process. Today, in the English lexicon a large number of blends can be found which are no longer recognized as such since they have been in everyday use for quite a long time (Katamba 1994: 184). This can be explained by the fact that blends tend to be abbreviations in the beginning and, due to their word-like appearance, are lexicalized over time (Hadžiahmetović-Jurida 2006: 283). Although blending plays a significant role in terms of word-formation, it is hardly mentioned in monographs focusing on this particular aspect of morphology.
This paper aims to explore the rules that determine the creation of blends as well as to have a closer look on two ways of categorizing them.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Blending: A creative way of coining new words
- 3 The process of blending
- 4 Blending and word classes
- 4.1 Blending within one word class
- 4.2 Blending across word classes
- 5 The classification of blendings according to Plag
- 5.1 Shortened compounds
- 5.2 Proper blends
- 5.3 Bauer's way of categorizing blends
- 6 Blends in everyday speech
- 7 Summary
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to investigate the creation and categorization of blends in the English language. It explores the rules governing blend formation, examines the role of word classes in this process, and critically analyzes different classification systems for blends.
- Definition and characteristics of lexical blending.
- Rules and restrictions in the formation of blends.
- The role of word classes in blend formation.
- Critical analysis of Plag's and Bauer's classification systems for blends.
- The significance of blends in everyday English speech.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the prevalence and increasing popularity of blending as a word-formation process in English, highlighting its significance despite limited attention in morphological studies. The author outlines the paper's objective: to explore the rules of blend creation and examine two categorization methods. The chapter also notes the source of examples used throughout the paper.
2 Blending: A creative way of coining new words: This chapter delves into the definition and nature of lexical blending, acknowledging the difficulty in establishing a precise definition due to its overlap with other word-formation processes like compounding. It presents Bauer's definition, emphasizing the lack of transparent morphological analysis in many blends, and contrasts this with Plag's more practical definition, which focuses on the combination of parts of two or more words with material deletion. Examples of clear blendings are provided, illustrating the concept.
3 The process of blending: This chapter discusses the process of blend creation, refuting Lipka's argument that blends are not complex lexemes. It explains Plag's blending rule (AB + CD => AD), highlighting its common application while acknowledging exceptions. The chapter also mentions Gries' observation regarding the contribution of shorter source words to the blend.
4 Blending and word classes: This chapter investigates whether word classes influence blend formation. It would delve into whether blends are formed from words within the same or across different word classes and explore any restrictions or patterns observed in this process. The analysis likely examines the impact of the grammatical categories of the source words on the resulting blend.
5 The classification of blendings according to Plag: This chapter provides a critical analysis of Plag's classification system for blends. It explores the strengths and weaknesses of his approach and likely compares and contrasts it with other existing systems, perhaps including Bauer's. This would involve discussing the categories within Plag's system and examining examples of each type of blend.
6 Blends in everyday speech: This chapter focuses on the practical application and prevalence of blends in everyday spoken and written English, showcasing their integration into modern communication. The analysis examines the frequency of blend usage, their impact on language evolution, and their role in conveying specific meanings or creating nuanced expressions. The significance of blends within the broader context of English language usage would be highlighted.
Keywords
Lexical blending, word formation, neologisms, morphology, word classes, blend classification, Plag, Bauer, English language.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Guide to Lexical Blending in English
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper comprehensively investigates lexical blending in the English language. It explores the creation and categorization of blends, examining the rules governing their formation, the role of word classes, and critically analyzing different classification systems.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the definition and characteristics of lexical blending; rules and restrictions in blend formation; the influence of word classes on blend formation; a critical analysis of Plag's and Bauer's classification systems; and the significance of blends in everyday English speech.
What is the objective of the research?
The research aims to investigate the creation and categorization of blends in English, exploring the rules of blend creation and examining two categorization methods (Plag's and Bauer's).
How does the paper define and characterize lexical blending?
The paper acknowledges the difficulty in precisely defining blending due to its overlap with other word-formation processes. It contrasts Bauer's definition, emphasizing the lack of transparent morphological analysis, with Plag's more practical definition focusing on combining parts of words with material deletion. Examples illustrate the concept.
What is Plag's blending rule, and are there exceptions?
Plag's blending rule is presented as (AB + CD => AD), a common but not absolute pattern. The paper acknowledges exceptions to this rule.
What is the role of word classes in blend formation?
The paper investigates whether blends are formed from words within the same or different word classes, exploring any patterns or restrictions in this process. It examines the impact of the grammatical categories of the source words on the resulting blend.
How does the paper analyze Plag's and Bauer's classification systems for blends?
The paper provides a critical analysis of Plag's classification system, exploring its strengths and weaknesses and comparing it with Bauer's system. This involves discussing the categories within each system and examining examples.
What is the significance of blends in everyday English speech?
The paper examines the frequency of blend usage in everyday spoken and written English, their impact on language evolution, and their role in conveying specific meanings or creating nuanced expressions. It highlights the significance of blends within the broader context of English language usage.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the paper?
The paper provides chapter summaries outlining the content of each section, including an introduction, an exploration of the blending process and its rules, an analysis of the role of word classes, a critical comparison of different classification systems for blends (primarily Plag's), and a discussion of the prevalence of blends in everyday speech.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
The keywords include lexical blending, word formation, neologisms, morphology, word classes, blend classification, Plag, Bauer, and English language.
- Quote paper
- Carmen Peresich (Author), 2014, Blends. A creative means of word-formation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/287710
