Words with a final-clipped stem retaining the functional morpheme (maths – mathematics, specs – spectacles)

The correlation of a shortened word with its prototype is of great interest. 2 possible developments should be pointed out.

The shorten form may be regarded as a variant or a synonym differing from the full form quantitatively, stylistically, emotionally. The prototype is usually stylistically and emotionally neutral (doc –doctor, exam – examination). The same with proper names: Becky – Rebecca, Frisco – San Francisco, Japs – Japanese. The missing part can at all time be supplied by the listener. So the connection between the prototype and the short form is not lost.

2) In the opposite case the connection can be established only etymologically. The meaning may be changed so much that the clipping becomes a separate word and a pair of etymological doublets comes into being (chap = chapman, fan – fanatic, fancy - fantasy, miss – mistress). The relationship between shorten words and the prototypes in the second group is irrelevant to the present-day vocabulary system and is a matter of diachronic study. Words belonging to the first group can be replaced by their prototypes and show in this way a certain degree of interchangeability while the doublets are never equivalent lexically as there are no context where the prototype can replace the shorten word without a change of meaning. Shorten word of the first group render one of the possible meanings of the prototype creation a colloquial or slang-shade and other emotional colouring as well. These words are also homonymous (gym for gymnastics, gymnasium; vet for veteran, veterinarian).

Unlike conversion, shortening produces the words of the same part of speech. The bulk of shorten words is constituted by nouns. Verbs are hardly ever shortened in present-day English. The verbs to phone, to vet are in fact converted from nouns. Shortened adj. are very few and mostly reveal a combination of shortening and affixation (dilly – delightful) they occur in slang.

20. The generally excepted classification of shortened words is based on the position of clipped parts according whether it is final, initial or middle part of the word we distinguish: final clipping, initial clipping, medieval clipping (syncope).

1) Final clipping (apocope) in which the beginning of the prototype is retained is practically the rule and forms the bulk of the class (ad, advert from advertising, coke from coca – cola, fab – fabulous, lab – laboratory, mac- mackintosh, ref - referee, vegs – veggies).

2) Initial clipping (aphesis, apheresis) – words retaining the final part of the prototype are less numerous but much more firmly established as separate lexical units with a meaning very different of that of the prototype and stylistically neutral doublets (cute – acute, fend - defend, mend – amend, story from history, to tend from attend) are synonyms. Neologisms are very few (chute - parachute). Cases like cello – violoncello, to phone – telephone where the curtailed words are stylistical synonyms or even variants of their prototypes are very rare. The process of assimilation of loan words is especially frequent in this group.

3) Shorten words with the middle part of the word left out are equally few. They are divided into 2 groups:

words with a final-clipped stem retaining the functional morpheme (maths – mathematics, specs – spectacles)

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