Review, Practice, and Explore – Chapter 6 • 55
Review, Practice, and Explore – Chapter 6
6.1
Analytic
A. In the Lushootseed (dxwlɘšucid) language, the place name Skykomish can be broken down into
the following morphemes. Based on this word, would you classify this language as more ana-
lytic or synthetic?
Skykomish
sq’ixwabš
s – q’ixw – abš
nominalizer—located upstream—people of ‘upstream people’
B. Explain how this example from Chinese is illustrative of an analytic rather than a synthetic
language.
我 所有 的 朋友 都 要 吃 ヌ 蛋
wfl suflyflu de péngyou du yào ch j dàn
I all possessive friend(s) all want eat chicken egg(s)
‘My friends all want to eat eggs.’
6.2
Japanese as Synthetic and Analytic
Japanese has agglutinative (synthetic) verbs but analytic nouns. Conduct some research on Japanese,
collect examples of verbs and nouns, and illustrate those aspects that are synthetic and those that are
analytic. If you find other examples of languages that share features of more than one language type,
discuss those as well.
Answers will vary.
6.3
Analyzing Yoruba Nasals
Recall the discussion in Chapter 4 of the various phonological processes that change one sound into
another. Such processes are at work in Yoruba, leading to several different forms, called allomorphs,
of the progressive morpheme. Based on the following data, what is the form of the progressive mor–
pheme (equivalent to English -ing) in each set of Yoruba verbs? The English translations are given
only in the infinitive. (Adapted from Cowan & Rakušan 1985: 79.)
56 • PART 2 Answer Key
present progressive
bá ḿbá ‘to meet’
bò ḿbò ‘to cover’
bù ḿbù ‘to cut’
6.4
Analyzing Iraqi Arabic Noun Stems
Based on the data in Set 1, what is the possessive morpheme in Iraqi Arabic? (Adapted from Cowan &
Rakušan 1985: 88-89.)
Set 1
nonpossessive possessive (my)
walad waladi ‘son’
tanak tanaki ‘tin’
ǰaras ǰarasi ‘bell’
possessive morpheme = i
Now consider the following data. Assume that the form of the possessive morpheme doesn’t change,
and that a phonological process applies to the nouns in Set 2 to derive their forms (which are differ–
ent from the forms of the nouns in Set 1). What is that process and why does it occur?
Set 2
nonpossessive possessive (my)
šaʕar šaʕri ‘hair’
šaʕab šaʕbi ‘people’
6.5
Slang
A. Using the slang dictionaries in your library and online, discuss the origins and evolution of three
slang words. If the words are still in use and the current meaning is related to or derived from
the older meaning, discuss how their meanings have changed.
Review, Practice, and Explore – Chapter 6 • 57
B. Define and discuss three slang terms that you and your friends know and/or use. Are they listed
in the slang dictionary? If they are, do they have the same meaning as your definitions? Do you
think your slang words will be around in ten years? Twenty years? Why or why not? See if you
can determine the origins of your slang terms.
In your discussion, try to answer the following questions:
• What criteria do we use to define a word as slang?
• What role do dictionaries play in defining a word as slang?
• What is the difference between slang terms and dialect variation?
6.6
Compounds
Sometimes it isn’t obvious whether a group of words is a compound word or not. Consider the
following:
cab ride
iron gate
paperback book
paperback novel
life insurance premium
barking dog
Are these compound nouns? Why or why not? What kinds of tests can you use to help determine
whether they are compounds or not?
6.7
Eponyms
A. Choose at least five of the following eponyms, look them up in a good etymological dictionary
such as A New Dictionary of Eponyms (Oxford University Press), and write a summary of each
word’s meaning and origin.
badminton, cardigan, derringer, forsythia, gorilla, hollandaise, jodhpurs, limousine, mack-
58 • PART 2 Answer Key
B. Consider the following words, which all originally came from brand names. Which of these do
you use as the generic name for the item?
6.8
Blends
What do the following words mean, and what words did they come from?
skullet, pomo, modem, spork
Come up with two other blends, and give the words that they are blended from.
6.9
Creative Morphology in Poetry
Poet Charles Wright employs a number of word formation processes in his work. One such process
in particular is illustrated in the following boldface words from his poetry. What is the word forma-
tion he uses? Explain briefly.
A. From “Black and Blue”:
Like deer in a leafy light,
B. From “Chickamauga”:
History handles our past like spoiled fruit.
C. From “Meditation on Song and Structure”:
In North Carolina, half a century ago,
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D. From “Meditation on Song and Structure”:
The afternoon breaking away in little pieces,
Siren’s squeal from the bypass,
The void’s tattoo, Nothing Matters,
mottoed across our white hearts?
Below are two more examples from the poetry of Charles Wright of a word formation process dis-
cussed in the chapter. What process is Wright using in excerpts E and F?
E. From “A Short History of the Shadow”:
Now into June, cloverheads tight, Seurating* the yard.
*Reference to Georges Seurat’s pointillist paintings (e.g., Le Pont de Courbevoie).
F. From “Journal of English Days”:
November’s my favorite month,
the downside of autumn
And winter in first array, the sky
Constabled* now and again
Over Kensington Gardens:
north of the Serpentine,
*Reference is to John Constable.
6.10
Clippings
Here are a few clippings not mentioned in the chapter:
jag, memo, typo, lab, gas
Determine what words each of these came from. Come up with three more examples of words
formed by clipping.
Answer:
jag – jaguar
