Transitional Morphology
Combining Forms in Modern English

Based on corpus data, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of a morphological phenomenon in Modern English, Combining Forms (CFs).

Elisa Mattiello (Author)

9781009168281, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 8 December 2022

200 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.9 cm, 0.51 kg

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.

1. Introduction
2. Background of combining forms
3. Dataset and methodology
4. Neoclassical combining forms
5. Abbreviated combining forms
6. Secreted combining forms
7. Splinters or combining forms 'in the making'
8. Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Historical & comparative linguistics [CFF], Language: history & general works [CBX]