Theoretical Grammar The subject-matter of theoretical grammar. Its relation to practical grammar

Back-formations and blends. Back-formation (also called reversion) is a term borrowed from diachronic linguistics. It denotes the derivation of new words by subtracting a real or supposed affix from existing words through misinterpretation of their structure. Blends are words formed from a word-group or two synonyms. In blends two ways of word-building are combined : abbreviation and composition. Back-formations and blends are becoming increasingly popular. Back-formation is reverse of affixation, being analogical creation of new word from existing word falsely assumed to be its derivative. Ex., verb “to edit” been formed from noun “editor” and similarly verbs automate, escalate are backformed from nouns automation, escalation.
Blends fall into 2 groups: (1) coalescences, such as “bash” from “bang” and “smash” and (2) telescoped forms, such as “motorcade” from “motor cavalcade.” In 1st group are words clash, from clack and crash. To 2nd group belong dormobiles, or dormitory automobiles. Simple shortenings, such as “ad” for “advertisement,” have risen in status. They are listed in dictionaries side by side with their full forms. Among such fashionable abbreviations are exam, gym, lab, lib, tech.


Sound imitation – words are made by imitating different links of sounds that may be produced by animals, birds…bark – лаять, mew – мяукать…some names of animals, birds & insects are made by SI coo-coo – кукушка, crow – ворона.
To glide, to slip are supposed to convey the very sound of the smooth easy movement over a slippery surface.
4. Polysemy in English. Homonyms and their classifications. (Полісемія в англійській мові. Омоніми та їх класифікації).
Polysemy. The word «polysemy» means «plurality of meanings» it exists only in the language, not in speech. A word which has more than one meaning is called polysemantic. Different meanings of a polysemantic word may come together due to the proximity of notions which they express. There are some words in the language which are monosemantic, such as most terms, /synonym, molecule, bronchites/, some pronouns /this, my, both/, numerals. There are two processes of the semantic development of a word: radiation and concatination. In cases of radiation the primary meaning stands in the centre and the secondary meanings proceed out of it like rays. Each secondary meaning can be traced to the primmary meaning. E.g. in the word «face» the primary meaning denotes «the front part of the human head» Connected with the front position the meanings: the front part of a watch, the front part of a building, the front part of a playing card were formed. Connected with the word «face» itself the meanings : expression of the face, outward appearance are formed. In cases of concatination secondary meanings of a word develop like a chain. In such cases it is difficult to trace some meanings to the primary one. E.g. in the word «crust» the primary meaning «hard outer part of bread» developed a secondary meaning «hard part of anything /a pie, a cake/», then the meaning »harder layer over soft snow» was developed, then «a sullen gloomy person», then «impudence» were developed. Here the last meanings have nothing to do with the primary ones. In such cases homonyms appear in the language. It is called the split of polysemy. Different meanings of 1 and same word are closely interrelated. Polysemy is a result of: 1. Shifts in application (adj. red); 2. Specialization (partner - basic meaning; type of relationship btw 2 or more people (business partner, partner in crime); 3. Metaphorical extension (fundamental feature of any l-ge) (hands of person ~ hands of clock). Polysemy has been complicated by tendency of words to pick up meanings from other dialects, l-ges and slang. New and old meanings become interrelated, form hierarchy. They have some common semantic features which preserve integrity of word.