Transitional Morphology - Combining Forms in Modern English

Combining Forms (CFs) are a major morphological phenomenon in Modern English, yet while they have been discussed in some morphological literature, no full-length study has been devoted to this topic so far. This pioneering book addresses that gap by providing a framework in which CFs are marked as distinct from their neighbouring categories such as abbreviations and blending. It splits CFs into four distinct categories - neoclassical (e.g. bio-therapy, zoo-logy), abbreviated (e.g. e-reader, econo-politics), secreted (e.g. oil-gate, computer-holic) and splinters (e.g. docu- from documentary in docudrama). It shows that the notion of CF spans a wide spectrum of processes, from regular composition to abbreviation, from blending to analogy, and schema. Modern and emerging English CFs are analysed by adopting a corpus-based approach, and measuring their realised, expanding, and potential productivity. Comprehensive yet accessible, it is essential reading for researchers and advanced students of morphology, English historical linguistics, corpus linguistics, and lexicography.

Product details

• Authors: Elisa Mattiello, Elisa (Universita Degli Studi Mattiello, Mattiello Elisa
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.12.2022
• EAN: 9781009168281
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0916828-1
• No. of pages: 200
• Dimensions: 157 mm x 236 mm x 17 mm
• Series: Studies in English Language; Print on demand titles; Elements in the Gothic
• Subjects: Education and learning; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics; Language: history & general works, Historical & comparative linguistics, Language: history and general works, Historical and comparative linguistics