Description
Book SynopsisMaking New Words provides a detailed study of the 200 or so prefixes and suffixes which create new words in today''s English. Alongside a systematic discussion of these forms, Professor Dixon explores and explains the hundreds of conundrums that seem to be exceptions to general rules. Why, for instance, do we say un-distinguished (with prefix un-) but in-distinguishable (with in-); why un-ceasing but in-cesssant? Why, alongside gold-en, do we say silver-y (not silver-en)? Why is it wood-en (not wood-ic) but metall-ic (not metall-en)? After short preliminary chapters, which set the scene and outline the criteria employed, there are accounts of the derivation of negative words, of other derivations which do not change word class, on making new verbs, new adjectives, new nouns, and new adverbs. The final chapter deals with combinations of suffixes, of prefixes, and of the two together. Within each chapter, derivational affixes are arranged in semantic groups, the members of which are con
Trade ReviewEvery teacher and student of English linguistics should possess this excellent book ... a truly monumental work. * Pavol Stekauer, Language *
Table of Contents1. Preliminaries ; 2. How to make new words ; 3. Criteria - affixes, semi-affixes, and compounds ; 4. What we describe ; 5. Un-expected, mis-judged, dis-organized counter-revolution: Making negative words ; 6. Ultra-patriotic, extra-special, pre-election pseudo-promise: Keeping the same word class ; 7. Be-feather, smart-en, em-power, beauti-fy, moral-ize: Making new verbs ; 8. Moon-like, death-ly, angr-y, mysteri-ous, memor-able: Making new adjectives ; 9. Eager-ness, bidd-ing, pay-ment, owner-ship, satisf-action: Making new nouns ; 10. Carefully, sideways, homewards, crab-fashion: Making new adverbs ; 11. Un-relent-less-ly de-west-ern-iz-ing non-mean-ing-ful infra-structures: Combining affixes ; 12. Envoi: the way of words ; Appendix 1: List of adjective and verb semantic types, with sample members ; Appendix 2: Alphabetical directory of adjective and verbs in the list of semantic types ; Glossary ; References
