In the last post, we talked about the word portmanteau and its now-seldom-used definition of “suitcase.” We also gave you a quote from Lewis Carroll, in which he uses the word to mean “a word in which two other words are combined.” Linguists picked up this terminology, and now use it in reference to words such as docudrama (“documentary” plus “drama”) and simulcast (“simultaneous” plus “broadcast”). Here are some other words you might find interesting – can you identify the two original English words?
claymation
Fans of Wallace and Gromit will recognize this method of creating moving, talking characters by using stop-motion filming and many, many hours of work.
camcorder
It may be hard to imagine, but before everybody had a cell phone that could take and store short movies, you had to buy one of these to document your child’s birthday party.
cyborgs
As technology continues to advance, these beings have moved from the realm of science fiction into scientific reality, giving us artificial limbs that use the person’s own nervous system to move, but not (as yet) the Terminator.
happenstance
Something can be excused as this if it only happens once, and if it happens twice, that’s coincidence, but if the same thing happens three times, there’s probably a motivating factor.
glitterati
In ages past, poets and playwrights were honored with the laurel wreath, and everyone knew their names. Today, we’re more likely to know the names of these people.
nutraceutical
If you’re searching for sports drinks fortified with ginkgo biloba and vitamin D, you’re looking for one of these.
transceiver
Walkie-talkies, shortwave radio sets, and mobile phones are all examples of this.
How many of the original words used in the blended words did you know? If you got all the answers right, we’ll take you out to brunch – but you’ll have to eat it with a spork.
Answers:
clay + animation = claymation
camera + videorecorder = camcorder
cybernetic + organisms = cyborgs
happening + circumstance = happenstance
glitter + literati = glitterati
nutrition + pharmaceutical = nutraceutical
transponder + receiver = transceiver