Branches of linguistics. Synchronic vs diachronic approaches to the language study. Lexicology – ‘the science of the word’ Lexicon

Graphical abbreviation is the result of shortening of a word or a word-group only in written speech (for the economy of space and effort in writing), while orally the corresponding full form is used:

days of the week and months, e.g. Sun., Tue., Feb., Oct., Dec.;

states in the USA, e.g. Alas., CA, TX;

forms of address, e.g. Mr., Mrs., Dr.;

scientific degrees, e.g. BA, BSc., MA, MSc., MBA, PhD.;

military ranks, e.g. Col.;

units of measurement, e.g. sec., ft, km.

Latin abbreviations, e.g. p.a., i.e., ibid., a.m., cp., viz.

internet abbreviations, e.g. BTW, FYI, TIA, AFAIK, TWIMC, MWA.

Lexical abbreviation is the result of shortening of a word or a word-group both in written and oral speech.

-alphabetical abbreviation (initialism) is a shortening which is read as a succession of the alphabetical readings of the constituent letters, e.g. BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), MTV (Music Television), EU (European Union), MP (Member of Parliament), WHO (World Health Organisation), AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) etc.;

-acronymic abbreviation (acronym) is a shortening which is read as a succession of the sounds denoted by the constituent letters, i.e. as if they were an ordinary word, e.g. UNESCO (United Nations Scientific, and Cultural Organisation), NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) etc.;

-anacronym is an acronym which is longer perceived by speakers as a shortening: very few people remember what each letter stands for, e.g. laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation), radar (radio detecting and ranging), scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus), yuppie (young urban professional).

-homoacronym is an acronym which coincides with an English word semantically connected with the thing, person or phenomenon, e.g. PAWS (Public for Animal Welfare Society), NOW (National Organisation for Women), ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) etc.;

Clipping is the process of cutting off one or several syllables of a word.