Back Formation in Linguistics

Back formation is a process in linguistics where a new word is created by removing part of the end of an existing word. This process often occurs when speakers analyze a word as having a suffix or an affix that can be removed to form a new word. It is essentially the reverse of affixation, where an affix is added to a word to create a new form.

For example, the word "burgle" is a back formation from the noun "burglar." In this case, the suffix "-ar" was removed from "burglar" to create the verb "burgle." Another example is the verb "edit" which was formed from the noun "editor" by removing the suffix "-or."

Origins and Examples

Back formation is a common process in language evolution and has been observed in many languages throughout history. It often arises when speakers reinterpret the morphological structure of a word and create a new word based on that reinterpretation.

One famous example of back formation is the creation of the verb "to burgle" from the noun "burglar." Another example is the verb "to liaise," which was created from the noun "liaison." In both cases, speakers analyzed the nouns as having a suffix that could be removed to create a verb form.

Back formation is a fascinating linguistic phenomenon that highlights the creative and dynamic nature of language. By understanding the process of back formation, linguists can gain insights into how words evolve and change over time. This process is a testament to the flexibility and adaptability of language, as speakers continuously find new ways to create and innovate with words.