Blending - Lane

Submitted by cdlane on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 15:25

Blending is the process of combining the beginning of one word and the end of another word to form a new word. It is used when one word does not describe what is happening or what you woul like to say exactly so you then "mesh" two words to make a word that describes what you are trying to say.

Examples: Pomadoodle (pomeranian + poodle)

               For Japanese... the most obvious reason is its adaptability to implement  foreign and loan words in its vocabulary, e.g. remote control becomes rimocon.

                glimmer (gleam + shimmer)

Resources: The Study of Language

                http://www.linguistlist.org/issues/13/13-880.html#2

                http://grammar.about.com/od/ab/g/blendterm.htm

Tags:

I think that this process is

Submitted by robert45 on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 16:04.
I think that this process is interesting. I especially think its interesting that there is a term for the process. Until I took this course I thought things just happen and that was that. When I think of blended words, a dog's breed definitely comes to mind. I wonder if it happens in a certain environment?

Environment

Submitted by jspartz on Tue, 10/14/2008 - 16:31.

Good question: "I wonder if it happens in a certain environment?"...do you mean that, phonologically, you wonder where/how the blends happen? Do a little more digging: Where does it seems that words get split and then combined? What constitutes a possible blending? What are the rules that determine blends? Are there any concepts we have discussed (e.g. phonotactics) that play a role in "legitimate" blends?

--John M. Spartz

Good Times With Utensils.

Submitted by overlordjeff on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 16:08.
This brings to mind the 'spork'. It is the classic combination of a spoon and fork. Do ya know what I'm sayin'?
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