Formative extraction, combining forms, and neoclassical compounding

Abstract

This chapter looks at the extraction of new formatives, like -(a)thon, -(a/o)holic, which behave parallel to neoclassical combining forms (e.g. -phobia, -(o)logist) in the creation of neoclassical-type compounds (talkathon, cosmologist). Neoclassical compounding is argued to have begun with combining forms from Ancient Greek, some via Latin and especially Medieval Latin. In scientific language, these were augmented by freely combining Greek roots. More recently, truncated forms of Greek, Latin, and English words have provided additional input to neoclassical compounding. Structurally, neoclassical roots are freely combinable, like native English compounds.