Which linguistic process can be seen in the formation of the following words? i. smog, ii. brunch, iii. motel iv. telecast
Identifying Word Formation: Blending
The question asks to identify the linguistic process used to form the words: smog, brunch, motel, and telecast.
Understanding Blending
Blending is a linguistic process where parts of two or more words are combined to create a new word. This new word typically merges the meanings of the original words. This process is also known as creating a portmanteau.
- smog is formed from smoke + fog
- brunch is formed from breakfast + lunch
- motel is formed from motor + hotel
- telecast is formed from television + broadcast
In each case, the beginning of one word is joined with the end of another (or sometimes parts from the middle) to create a single, new word. This is the defining characteristic of blending.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect
Other common word formation processes differ from blending:
- Borrowing involves adopting words directly from other languages (e.g., 'sushi').
- Compounding joins two or more whole words together to form a new word (e.g., 'sun' + 'flower' = 'sunflower').
- Backformation involves creating a new word by removing a real or perceived suffix from an existing word (e.g., 'edit' from 'editor').
Since the given words are formed by merging parts of existing words, blending is the correct linguistic process.
Important Questions from Words
- The word-formation process of Backformation can apply to which ONE of the following pairs?
Choose the statement where underlined word is used correctly.
(A) When the teacher eludes to different authors, he is being elusive.
(B) When the thief keeps eluding the police, he is being elusive.
(C) Matters that are difficult to understand, identify or remember are allusive.
(D) Mirages can be allusive, but a better way to express them is illusory.- The unruly crowd demanded that the accused be ______ without trial.
- Which one of the following is a famous detective character created by Edgar Allan Poe?
- Eric Arthur Blair was born in Motihari, Bihar. He went on to become famous as an author of a dystopian work which introduced the terms 'Newspeak', 'Thoughtcrime', and 'Doublespeak'. He wrote under the pseudonym ________.
