Linguistics

Dewi Arum Sari

Faisal Rasyid Rabbani
Rabiatul Adawiyah
14SC

English Literature Programme

Faculty of Arts and Languages

Universitas Negeri Jakarta

AN ANALYSIS OF

Initialism, Blending, Backformation, and Clipping in English and

Indonesian
 Introduction
As one of the branches in linguistics field, the study of morphology deals with many
aspects that consist of the formation of word. There are two main types of word formation that
are usually become the main concern. They are called derivation and the other is compounding.
While derivation is the combination of a base (can be either a noun/verb/adjective) with affixes
(can be either prefixes or suffixes), so it will produce new word such as in-complete or de-
activate, compounding is all about the combination of one lexical category (LC) with other lexical
category (can be with same type of LC or different with one another) such as greenhouse or
breakdance.

However, the world of linguistics does not limited only for those two types. There are
several other ways to create or form new words e.g. backformation, conversion, coinage,
onomatopoeia, blending, clipping, acronym, and initialism. Every one of them basically has the
same concept as derivation and compounding yet with different rules and characteristics.

Four of word formations are chosen to be analyzed, there are initialism, blending, back
formation and clipping. Those word formation have several types. The use of these word
formations (initialism, blending, back formation and clipping) is to shorten one word or several
word to make the pronouciation easier. In initialism case, it cannot be pronounced as a word. It
is articulated as letters forming word and the way to read the initalism is by spelling letter by
letter. Many people suppose that initiliasm and acronym are quite the same. In fact, it is really
different. Acronym can be pronounced a word although it is also taking the initial words to clip it
together. In blending and back formation, they are pronounced as a word. Blending is truncating
two words (or more in Indonesian) become one, meanwhile back formation is forming a new
lexical category by removing the final element of the existing word. In clipping, it is just the
process of creating new word by removing the initial/final/initial-final element of word and does
not change lexical category. It can be pronounced as a word as well.

Thus, this paper aims to discover and distinguish the differences of each aspect in
initialism, blending, backformation, and clipping in English with their comparation in Indonesian.
Furthermore, after find the differences between English and Indonesian in case of initialism,
blending, backformation, and clipping, we can obtain the reason why some differences occur.
 Discussion

Blending
Blending is the process of creating new word by combining two words which are
clipped/truncated. In contrast to other forms of word formation, the spliced parts of words in
blends are rarely morphemes. It may clip off the beginning or the end of the one element leaving
either the first or the second element.

There are several types of blending such as the beginning of one word and the end of
another word combined together, combining the beginnings of two words, splicing words around
a common sequence of sounds, and multiple sounds from two component words are blended,
while mostly preserving the sounds' order. Meanwhile, in Indonesians blend words type include
such combining the first syllable of the first word and the first syllable of the next word(s),
combining the first syllable of the first word with the syllable in the middle of the next word(s),
combining the syllable in the middle of the word and the first syllable of the next word(s),
combining the root or free morpheme with the syllable of the next word(s), and so on.

Here is the table comparison of English blend words and Indonesian blend words.

No. Items Being English Indonesian TC Remarks

Difference Similarity
Compared
1. The beginning of 1. camcorder selebgram - Both English
one word and the (camera + (selebriti + and
end of another recorder) instagram) Indonesian
word combined chunk the first
together. word and the
(English) second word.

It removes the
last syllable of
the first word
and the first
syllable of the
second word
 to blend it
together.

2. brunch Jagorawi Differences :

(breakfast + (Jakarta + In English, it
lunch) Bogor + Ciawi) has two words
blended into
one.
In Indonesian,
it has three
words blended
into one.

In English, it
removes the
end of the first
word and the
beginning of
the second
word to blend
the two words.

In Indonesian,
it removes the
second and
the third
element of the
first word, the
final element
of the second
word, and the
first and the
second
element of the
 third word.

Similarity :
Both English
and
Indonesian
remove the
beginning of
the second
word.

3. infotainment warnet (warung - Both English

(information + internet) and
+ Indonesian
entertainmen chunk the first
t) word and the
second word.

It removes the
end of the first
word and the
beginning of
the second
word to blend
it together.

2. Combining the 1. cyborg surel (surat + Difference :

beginnings of two (cybernetic + elektronik) In English, it
words. organism) removes the
(English) third and the
fourth element
of the first
word, and also
the final
element of the
 second word.

In Indonesian,
it removes the
final element
of the first
word and also
the second,
the third, and
the fourth
element of the
second word.

Similarity :
Both English
and
Indonesian
chunk the first
word and the
second word.

2. hazmat matdas - Both English

(hazardous + (matematika + and
material) dasar) Indonesian
chunk the first
word and the
second word.

It removes the
end of the first
word and the
second word
to blend it
together.
 3. biopic pemprov - Both English
(biographical (pemerintah + and
+ picture) provinsi) Indonesian
chunk the first
word and the
second word.

It removes the
end of the first
word and the
second word
to blend it
together.

3. Splicing words 1. motel (motor miras - Similarity :

around a + hotel) (minuman + Both examples
common keras) chunk first
sequence of word and the
sounds. second word.
(English)
It removes the
end of the first
word and the
beginning of
the second
word.

It consists of
five letters in
each blend
word both
English and
Indonesian
 (m+o+t+e+l
and
m+i+r+a+s).

2. Singlish Suramadu Difference :

(Singaporean (Surabaya + In English, it
+ English) Madura) removes the
third, the
fourth and the
fifth element of
the first word
and the
beginning of
the second
word.
While in
Indonesian, it
removes the
third and the
fourth element
of the first
word, and the
final element
of the second
word.

Similarity :
Both English
and
Indonesian
examples
have two
words blended
 into one.

3. Californication mafia - In English

(California + (matematika + example, it
Fornication) fisika + kimia) has two words
blended into
one.

In Indonesian
example, it
has three
words blended
into one.

In English, it
removes the
end of the first
word and the
beginning of
the second
word.

In Indonesian,
it removes the
end of the first
word and the
second word,
and also the
beginning the
third word.

4. Multiple sounds 1. slithy (lithe - - - Indonesian

from two and slimy) does not have
component words this type. So, it
are blended,
 while mostly is irrelevant to
preserving the compare with
sounds' order. the English
(English) type

2. frumious - - -
(fuming and
furious)

3. mimsy - - -
(flimsy and
miserable)

5. Combining the - 1. diknas - - In English, this

syllable in the (pendidikan blending type
middle of the + nasional) does not exist.
word and the first So, it cannot
syllable of the be compared
next word(s) with the
(Indonesian) Indonesian
one.
- 2. diksar - -
(pendidikan
+ dasar)

- 3. diklat - -
(pendidikan
+ latihan)

6. Combining the - 1. dishub - - English does

first syllable of the (dinas + not have this
first word with the perhubunga type of
syllable in the n) Indonesian
middle of the next blend words.
word(s) So, it cannot
(Indonesian)
 be compared
- 2. sinetron - -
due to it.
(sinema +
elektronik)

- 3. -
7. Combining the 1. guesstimate timses (tim + - Both English
root or free (guess + sukses) and
morpheme with estimate) Indonesian
the syllable of the combine the
next word(s) root or free
morpheme as
the first word
with the
beginning of
the second
word.

Both also
remove the
first element of
the second
word.

2. electrocute timnas (tim + Difference :

(electro + nasional) In English, it
execute) removes the
the beginning
of the first
word.
In Indonesian,
it removes the
end of the
second word.
 Similarity :
Both English
and
Indonesian
have two
words blended
into one.

3. newscast -
(news +
broadcast)

A similarity found in both English and Indonesian blending type such as combining the
beginnings of two words. There is English blending type that cannot be found in Indonesian. It is
multiple sounds from two component words are blended, while mostly preserving the sounds'
order type. In this type, for example, mimsy (flimsy and miserable), the order of putting the
words after being blended is different. Usually, mimsy can be miserable and flimsy, but in this
case, it is an execption.

In Indonesian, it can combine three or more words to become one blended word such as
Jagorawi and Suramadu. Meanwhile in English, it can only combine two words to become one
new blended word such as motel, hazmat, infotainment, and so on. There are two Indonesian
blending types that English does not have, combining the syllable in the middle of the word and
the first syllable of the next word(s) and combining the first syllable of the first word with the
syllable in the middle of the next word(s).

Back Formation

Back formation is the process of creating new word by removing the final element of
existing word and does change the Lexical Category.

Here is the table comparison of English back formation words and Indonesian back formation
words.
 Items TC
No. being English Indoenesian Remarks
Difference Similarity
compared
- The
typewritertypewrite penulismenulis placemen
Back - t of affixes
1. dancerdance penarimenari
Formation are
- different.
actionact pelariberlari

The difference between English and Indonesian, is in English, back formation result (the
change in Lexical Category) can be seen directly after an affix is removed from the word.
Meanwhile, in Indonesian, the change of Lexical Category can only be seen not only after the
affix is removed but it replace the affix too with another affixes. Because in Indonesian, we must
add affixes to make a Subject (in the example, the noun here is a subject) and Verb.

Clipping

Clipping is the process of creating new word by removing the initial/final/initial-final element
of word and does not change lexical category. There are four types of clipping:

Back clipping: Removing one or more syllables at the end of a word.

Fore-clipping: Refers to the omission of one or more syllables at the beginning of a word.

Middle Clipping: Retaining only in the middle of a word.

Complex Clipping: Refers to the shortening of a compound word by preserving and

combining its initial parts (or first syllable).

Here is the table comparison of English clipping words and Indonesian clipping words.

No. Items being Eng. Ind. TC Remarks

 compared Difference Similarity

4. -
Bro (brother) Sob (sobat)

-
Pro (professional) Modif (modifikasi) Both in
- English and
Indonesian,
Back-clipping the word in
Perpus which being
Intro (introduction)
(perpustakaan) clipped is the
same.

Fore-clipping - Both in
Hamburger (burger) Pak (bapak)
English and
- Indonesian,
Phone (telephone) Abang (bang)
the word in
Plane (airplane) Adik (dik) -
which being
clipped is the
same.
 - Both in
English and
Indonesian,
the word in
which being
Middle-clipping Flu (influenza) Flu (influensa) clipped is the
same.

- Both in
Sitcom (situation Ponsel (telepon
English and
comedy) seluler)
Indonesian,
-
the word in
which being
Complex
clipped is the
clipping
Forex (foreign Trims (terima same.

exchange) kasih)

There are no difference between English and Indonesian, perhaps it could be happen
because Indonesian borrow this material from English. We can see the similarity clipping words
between English and Indonesian, they both removed the same element in the same place.
 Conclusion

After analyzing the four elements of word formations there are initialism, blending, back
formation and clipping, we have the results of the differences and similarities both in English
and Indonesian.

A similarity found in both English and Indonesian blending type such as combining the
beginnings of two words. There is English blending type that cannot be found in Indonesian. It is
multiple sounds from two component words are blended, while mostly preserving the sounds'
order type. In Indonesian, it can combine three or more words to become one blended word.
Meanwhile in English, it can only combine two words to become one new blended word.There
are two Indonesian blending types that English does not have, combining the syllable in the
middle of the word and the first syllable of the next word(s) and combining the first syllable of
the first word with the syllable in the middle of the next word(s).

The difference between English and Indonesian, is in English, back formation result (the
change in Lexical Category) can be seen directly after an affix is removed from the word.
Meanwhile, in Indonesian, the change of Lexical Category can only be seen not only after the
affix is removed but it replaces the affix too with another affixes. Because in Indonesian, we
must add affixes to make a subject and verb.

There are no difference between English and Indonesian clipping, perhaps it could be
happen because Indonesian borrows this material from English. We can see the similarity of
clipping words between English and Indonesian, they both remove the same element in the
same place.

References

a. http://www.literasi.net/2016/03/cara-penulisan-singatan-dan-akronim.html

b. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/abbreviations/
c. Yunita. 2014. PEMENDEKAN KATA INDONESIAN DALAM FACEBOOKER BICARA PADA
KORAN TRIBUN JOGJA. Skripsi. FBS, PROGRAM STUDI BAHASA DAN SASTRA
INDONESIA, UNIVERSITAS NEGERI YOGYAKARTA.

d. Kridalaksana, Harimurti, 1980.(a) Berberapa Prinsip Perpaduan Leksem dalam Bahasa

Indonesia. Yogyakarta : Kanisius