AFFIXLESS WORD FORMATION IN MODERN ENGLISH

Abstract

The purpose. The purpose of the article is to study the affixless way of forming new words in the modern English language. By the new word we mean such a lexical unit which is recorded in general dictionaries for the first time.

Methods. The following methods were used in the process of working: component analysis, the descriptive method, the comparison method, classification, the method of statistical processing.

Results. Affixless derivation is represented by compounding, shortening (abbreviation, truncation, blending) and conversion. Compounds are created according to certain models. It is believed that interjections are devoid of word formation. The work proves the opposite. The compoud interjection geez louise / Geez Louise is formed by combining the interjection and the noun based on rhyme. We think that a rare combination of an initialism with the second complete component of a compound word belongs to the category of combined abbreviations (b-day=birthday, d-bag=douchebag). It has been found that monosyllabic and disyllabic apocopes prevail among truncated words (hench=henchman, cab=Cabernet, tender=tenderloin, agric=agricultural). The study shows that complex truncations can have several spelling variations. The material contains an example where the number of spellings of a word reaches eight (cab sav / cab. sav. / cab sauv / cab. sauv. / Cab Sav / Cab. Sav. / Cab Sauv / Cab. Sauv.) The article specifies the criteria that make it possible to accurately distinguish blends from a number of units with similar structural characteristics. It is shown that such a method of word-formation as blending is used not only to form common words in the modern English language (zonkey: zebra + donkey, infodemic: information + epidemic), but also to create proper names (Jew York: Jew + New York). The most productive models of conversion are indicated (Noun----Verb, Verb----Noun, Adjective----Verb).

Conclusions. The affixless word-formation is represented by two main types in the modern English language: morphological (compounding, shortening) and morphological-syntactic (conversion).