pile of books
skip main nav
 Ling 131: Language & Style
 
<!-- function MM_swapImgRestore() { //v3.0 var i,x,a=document.MM_sr; for(i=0;a&&i<a.length&&(x=a[i])&&x.oSrc;i++) x.src=x.oSrc; } function MM_preloadImages() { //v3.0 var d=document; if(d.images){ if(!d.MM_p) d.MM_p=new Array(); var i,j=d.MM_p.length,a=MM_preloadImages.arguments; for(i=0; i<a.length; i++) if (a[i].indexOf("#")!=0){ d.MM_p[j]=new Image; d.MM_p[j++].src=a[i];}} } function MM_swapImage() { //v3.0 var i,j=0,x,a=MM_swapImage.arguments; document.MM_sr=new Array; for(i=0;i<(a.length-2);i+=3) if ((x=MM_findObj(a[i]))!=null){document.MM_sr[j++]=x; if(!x.oSrc) x.oSrc=x.src; x.src=a[i+2];} } //-->

Topic 2 (session A) - Being creative with words and phrases > New words for old

skip topic navigation
Session Overview
(Semi) Automatic poetry
Introducing word classes
More on word classes
Manipulating word classes
Changing word class - affixation
Changing word class - functional conversion
New words for old
Word class problems
Word class checklist
 
Useful Links
Readings
Grammar Website
 

New words for old

Accessible / Text version of task

Neologising
I like neologisms.
You can compress old words together
into one snugcompactunit.
Or you can force
an alternative understanding of an old word
by using it in a different toothbrush.
In addition, you can create brand new words,
which have a high degree of meaningocity --
excelling in their signifiness
pregnanticative gistisms,
and inventorised purnotation.
Or, on the other hand, you can
create words which are totally
thrungefuttock.

Take each of the emboldened words in turn and work out(a) how the neologism is created and (b) what effect(s) you think Dixon is trying to create with the new word. Then, after you have given your reasons, compare your analysis with ours.

Our answers

 

 


to the top
back to 'New words for old' next

Home ¦ Outline ¦ Contents ¦ Glossary