In linguistics (particularly morphology and lexicology), word formation refers to the ways in which new

words are made on the basis of other words or morphemes. Also called derivational morphology.

Word-formation can denote either a state or a process, and it can be viewed either diachronically
(through different periods in history) or synchronically (at one particular period in time). See examples
and observations below.

In The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, David Crystal writes about word formations:

"Most English vocabulary arises by making new lexemes out of old ones — either by adding an affix to
previously existing forms, altering their word class, or combining them to produce compounds. These
processes of construction are of interest to grammarians as well as lexicologists. ... but the importance of
word-formation to the development of the lexicon is second to none. ... After all, almost any lexeme,
whether Anglo-Saxon or foreign, can be given an affix, change its word class, or help make a compound.
Alongside the Anglo-Saxon root in kingly, for example, we have the French root in royally and the Latin
root in regally. There is no elitism here. The processes of affixation, conversion, and compounding are all
great levelers."

(David Crystal, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, 2nd ed. Cambridge University
Press, 2003)

Processes of Word-Formation

"Apart from the processes that attach something to a base (affixation) and processes that do not alter
the base (conversion), there are processes involving the deletion of material. ... English Christian names,
for example, can be shortened by deleting parts of the base word (see 11) This type of word formation is
called truncation, with the term clipping also being used.

(11a) Ron (-Aaron)

(11a) Liz (-Elizabeth)

(11a) Mike (-Michael)

(11a) Trish (-Patricia)

(11b) condo (-condominium)

(11b) demo (-demonstration)

(11b) disco (-discotheque)

(11b) lab (-laboratory)

Sometimes truncation and affixation can occur together, as with formations expressing intimacy or
smallness, so-called diminutives:

(12) Mandy (-Amanda)

(12) Andy (-Andrew)

(12) Charlie (-Charles)

(12) Patty (-Patricia)

(12) Robbie (-Roberta)

We also find so-called blends, which are amalgamations of parts of different words, such as smog (-
smoke/fog) or modem (modulator/demodulator). Blends based on orthography are called acronyms,
which are coined by combining the initial letters of compounds or phrases into a pronounceable new
word (NATO, UNESCO, etc.). Simple abbreviations like UK or USA are also quite common."

(Ingo Plag, Word-Formation in English. Cambridge University Press, 2003)

Academic Studies of Word-Formation

- "Following years of complete or partial neglect of issues concerning word formation (by which we mean
primarily derivation, compounding, and conversion), the year 1960 marked a revival—some might even
say a resurrection—of this important field of linguistic study. While written in completely different
theoretical frameworks (structuralist vs. transformationalist), both Marchand's Categories and Types of
Present-Day English Word-Formation in Europe and Lee's Grammar of English Nominalizations instigated
systematic research in the field.