Blending is one if the most common type of word formation. Parts of two existing words are blended together to form new words. These parts are also referred to as morphemes.
Eg. Spoon + fork = Spork
Smoke + fog = Smog
The blended words are also known as Portmanteau words or simply Portmanteaus.The earliest blends in English only go back to The 19th century, with wordplay coinages by Lewis Carroll in Jabberwocky.
For example, he introduced to the language Slithy, formed from lithe and slimy, and Galumph, (from gallop and triumph).
Meaningful blends
Meaningful Blends are blends that “share properties of the referents Of both elements”. Here first part of the first word and second part of the second word are blended together to form new words.
GIANT + ENORMOUS = GINORMOUS
BANG + SMASH = BASH
INFORMATION + ENTERTAINMENT= INFOTAINMENT
OXFORD + CAMBRIDGE = OXBRIDGE
Modified Blends
Modified blends are blends in which “the first element modfies the second element”. Here first part of the first word and first part of the second word are blended together to form new words.
- INTERNATIONAL + NETWORK = INTERNET
- WIRELESS + FIDELITY = WIFI
- PROFILE + PICTURE = PRO-PIC
Other rare cases of blending can be seen in
- BY + CAUSE = BECAUSE
- PICTURE + ELEMENT = PIXEL
- CELLULOSE + DIAPHANE = CELLOPHANE
- INTERNET + CITIZEN = NETIZEN
