Lexicology - Autumn 2004
Handout - week 5

DERIVATION. BACK FORMATION. CONVERSION. ABBREVIATION.

1. Discuss the make-up of the following derivatives:
cronyism
payee
underdeveloped
superheat
superordinate
advertiser
talkativeness
nightmarish
Kafkaesque
outlandish
pre-reader

2. Can conversion take place in the following lexical units?
Which word classes are involved?
want
black
make
make-believe
fat
store
petition
back
cake
lose
police
stone
but
open
loan
echo

3. What do the following expressions mean? How were they
formed?
recap
biz
union
the Olympics
Aussie
Fed
motor show
O.K.
fries
Beth
IOU
dot com
mike