Syncretism In Word-Building As Language Economy Principle Embodiment

Abstract

The paper deals with the issue of syncretism in word-building and focuses on the group of blends which includes pure lexical blends, hybrid (bilingual) blends and phrasal blends. This productive way of word creation is treated in the spotlight of linguistic economy principle. The author claims that producing blended structures as well as using them in speech follows the line of the least effort. The analysis is built upon the database of blends as well as other novel lexical units compiled and posted on Internet site www.wordspy.com by Paul McFedries. The research has been based upon component and distribution analysis; it also takes into account a cognitive approach to language units study. In case of blending base words are cumulated together both in their structure and meaning to produce an extraordinary lexeme with additional connotations and various functions. The paper presents numerous examples of blends, analyzed and classified according to their semantic, structural and phonetic properties. Syncretism in word-building manifests itself in production of lexical units with untypical content and surface structure that are getting widely-spread among language users. Synthesis of their elements is so efficient that the resulting lexical element is generally perceived by the speakers of the given language as an indivisible unit which also contributes to their popularity though may provoke misunderstanding.

Keywords: Blendinghybrid blendslinguistic economyphrasal blendssyncretismword-building

Introduction

The term “syncretism” dates back to early 17^th century and originates from Greek sunkrētismos, from sun- ‘together’ + krēs ‘Cretan’ (originally with reference to ancient Cretan communities), as Oxford Dictionary (2019) says. In a general sense syncretism is defined as integration of various elements that may occur in different spheres, such as art, religion, philosophy, etc. According to Encyclopedia Britannica (2019), syncretism in society is synonymic to cultural fusion, while religious syncretism is treated as the fusion of diverse religious beliefs and practices, such as, for example, Gnosticism.

However, we focus on linguistic syncretism that presupposes synthesis of differential structural and semantic language units which are opposed to each other within the language system and are connected through transitivity (Yartseva, 2002). Pott is generally acknowledged with introducing this term into linguistics in the meaning of the diachronic collapse of originally distinct inflectional forms, either through merger of the forms, or through the merger of their underlying functions (as quoted in Baerman, Brown, & Corbett, 2005).

Synthesis in language may be observed on the level of grammar forms and syntactic structures; Baerman et al. (2005) define the phenomenon as a spectrum of morphology-syntax interaction involving loss of feature distinctions and study inflectional syncretism, presenting a typology of its occurrence across a wide range of languages.

But we claim that syncretism may also be observed in the process of word-building when base words are cumulated together both structurally and semantically to produce unique lexemes. This phenomenon is brightly manifested by blends which are constructed through overlap of semantic and formal base components.The following blends may serve as examples that demonstrate mental spaces overlap resulting in an integrated metaphoric form:

procrastibaking<procrastinate + baking, putting off an important or urgent task by baking;

narb< narrative + bit, an item of personal information posted online, particularly as it contributes, often unwittingly, to a personal narrative that individual is creating online (McFedries, 2019).

Thus blending, though considered a peripheral way of word-building, constitutes relevant examples to prove that syncretism works not only on grammar and syntax levels but also on the level of word creation. While morphology-syntax syncretism leads to much ambiguity in forms and meaning, word-building syncretism is primarily characterized by the notion of economy.

Problem Statement

The principle of linguistic economy has provided the basis and value for numerous research which study the language material from various viewpoints. Here belong works by Joseph Vendryes, Paul Passy, Henry Sweet, Henri Frei, Werner Leopold, André Martinet, George Kingsley Zipf (as cited in Vicentini, 2003). The given concept operates in accordance with the so called least effort principle when a language speaker is either consciously or subconsciously eager to save their energy while using language means. This principle works on phonetic, lexical, morphological and syntactical levels and presupposes brevity of expression, consolidation of form and content and overall control of language material.

Research Questions

Here we focus in detail upon several lexical groups that follow the principle of linguistic economy and demonstrate syncretism features both in their planes of expression and content. These groups include lexical blends pure, hybrid bilingual blends and phrasal blends.

Purpose of the Study

The research carried out herein is aimed at considering the notions of linguistic syncretism and linguistic economy, and principally making an attempt to verify the hypothesis that certain ways of word-building in English reflect the aforementioned phenomena and follow their principles. Thus, lexical blending has become the focus of our attention as its derivatives demonstrate brevity of both planes of content and expression saving language speakers’ effort to create and employ the necessary linguistic means.

Research Methods

The research has been based upon basic general scientific methods such as statistical analysis, classification and description of the studied phenomena, as well as special linguistic methods like component and distribution analysis, contextual and cognitive approaches.

Findings

Blending, though considered a peripheral way of word-building producing occasional words for the purpose of self-expression or literary works, currently constitutes a considerable portion of vocabulary stock in English. Undoubtedly it concerns first of all a group of neologisms; for instance, McFedries’ (2019) online database presents most recent English blends and they make 85% of the whole corpora. The fact proves that language speakers tend to create new lexemes on the basis of this pattern and thus demonstrate their desire to sound innovative, expressive, but simultaneously economical.

Phrasal blends may come into common usage due to their homophony, as they are frequently identical in their phonetic properties to other everyday words (14% of the total number). The following examples may demonstrate this characteristic feature of phrasal blends:

canard<canhard(ly)…– hardly suitable\applicable and canard – rumour; a model of a plane;

gofer/gopher<gofor…– someone who performs other people’s errands and gopher–a small animal;

tofu<total fool and tofu – soya cheese .

Conclusion

The conducted study and the examples analysed herein have shown that our hypothesis concerning syncretism to be observed on the level of word-building has proved right and thus we may claim that lexical blending in its variety of subtypes demonstrate the tendency for linguistic economy and synthesis of structure and content.Blend creation follows a number of principles which regulate the order of the base elements in the derived structure, the number of syllables and the point(s) of their junction. Besides there are certain requirements which are necessary to be observed while blend creation, for instance, integrity of the derived lexeme and its semantic transparency. In case a language user takes into account the enumerated factors, they may master blend creation and comprehension in order to ensure effective communication, to find a way for self-expression and linguistic creativity with the minimum effort.

References

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