Chapte FourWord - formation in Medical TerminologyMedical terms are largely formed from the building elements, namely, roots, prefixes, suffixes and existing words. Generally, we recognize five commonly used processes of word- formation in medical language. They are: 1.affixation( 词缀法), position(合成法), 3.conversion(转化法), 4.shortening(缩略法),including (1) blending(紧缩词), (2) clipping(音节缩略词), and (3) acronym(字母缩略词), and 5. backformation(逆生法)。

1.Affixation (词缀法) （Derivation 派生法）----Prefixation （加前缀法）----Suffixation（加后缀法）----Combining vowols （组合元音）----Common patterns of affixation(1)Prefixation1）Definition: prefixation is a morphological process whereby a prefix is attached to the front of base (root orword).2）G rammatical role: Usually, prefixation tends to be semantically oriented, adding new meaning to a basewithout change in the part of speech (词性).3)Examples: Autograft (自体移植), isograft (同系移植物), allograft (homograft) (同种异体移植物),xenograft (hetrograft) ( 异种移植物) all have thesame root graft but denote grafts of different typesbecause of their prefixes.（2）S uffixation1）Definition：Suffixation is a morphological process whereby a suffix is attached to the end of a base (wordor root)2）G rammatical role: Suffixes are basically class-changing.Hence, suffixation tends to change the part of speechof a word.3)Examples: immune, immunity, immunize andimmunization have basic meaning, all related to“immunity” of an organism, but belong to differentword classes.（3）C ombining vowols (CV)1）Definition: When two bases are combined or a suffix is attached to a base, if there is no vowel to joint thetwo forms, a vowol called the combining vowol isadded.2)Commonly used CVs : The most commonly usedcombining vowol is o, with i and a coming second.3)Examples: arthr + o + centesis = arthrocentesisMast + o + carcinoma = mastocarcinomaMamm + o + plasia = mammoplasia(4) Common patterns of affixation① P r e f i x+rootInject=in + ject② p r e f i x+c o m b i n i n g v o w e l+r oo tEctoderm = ect + o + derm③root + s u ff i xStasis= sta + sis④root + c o m b i n i n g v o w e l+s u ff i xSclerosis = scler + o + sis⑤ p r e f i x+r oo t+s u ff i xPerirenal = peri + ren + al⑥ p r e f i x+r oo t+c o m b i n i n g v o w e l+s u ff i xSynarthrosis = syn + arthr + 0 + sis⑦ p r e f i x+p r e f i x+r oo t+c o m b i n i n g v o w e l+s u ff i xContraindication = contra + in + dic + a + Tion⑧r oo t+r oo t+s u ff i xsialadenitis = sial + aden + itis⑨r oo t+c o m b i n i n g v o w e l+r oo t+s u ff i xhemophilia = hem + o + phil + ia⑩p r e f i x+r oo t+r oo t+s u ff i xhyperglycemia = hyper + glyc + (h)em +iaposition (合成法)（1）Definition：Composition is a word-forming process by joining two or more words.(2)Types of compounds1)Open compound: An open compound is made up oftwo or more words written separately.For example, woman doctor, man nurse, brain death,birth control, gray matter.2)Hyphenated compound: An hyphenated compoundcontains two or more words connected by a hyphen.For example, high-resolution, host-specific, deaf-mute, air-borne, bottle-feed, graft-versus-host3)Solid compound: A solid compound consists of twowords written as one word such as windpipe, sleepwalk, overweight, and nosebleed.4)Neoclassical compound: A neoclassical compoundrefer to those coined from elements of the classical languages ( Latin and Greek ).Most roots and compound suffixes have been very active and productive in this word-forming process. Such words as biocide, lysosome, bio-science, psychanalysis, biophysics and chemotherapy are all neoclassical compounds.3.Conversion (转化法)（1）Definition: A word-forming process wherebya word is adapted or converted to a new class without anychange of form.(2)Examples:Stent ( n.-----v. ) plaster (n ----- v. )Mask ( n.-----v. ) faint (adj----- v. )Smell ( v.-----n. ) skin (n ----- v. )4.Shortening (缩略法)-----Blending (紧缩法)-----clipping (音节缩略法)-----Acronyms (字母缩略词)（2）Blending (紧缩法) ---- blend（紧缩词）1）Definition：A blend is formed by blending two or more words.2）Types and examples: three major patterns as follows,Part + part genome ( gen e +chromos ome)Whole + part breathalyzer (breath + an alyzer)Part + whole medicaid ( medic al + aid )Medicare ( medic al + care )Medichair ( medic al + chair )Paramedic ( para chute + medic ) （3）clipping (音节缩略法)1）Definition：clipping refers to the process wherebya word is shortened by clipping off part of the wordwithout change in its meaning and word class.2）Examples:Exam -------------- exam inationFlu ----------------- in flu enzaSpec ---------------- s pec taclesPolio --------------- polio myelitisPsych -------------- psych ologyQuack ------------ quack salver(3)Acronyms (字母缩略词)1）Definition: an acronym is a word coined from theinitial letters of a group words.2) Patterns and examples:------Acronyms from modern EnglishCT-------------(computerized tomography)RBC----------( red blood cell )BMR---------( basal metabolic rate )But TB ------------ tuberculosisOD ----------- o verdoseIV -------------- i ntravenous------Acronyms from Latin or Greeka.c. ( ante cibum = before meal )p.c. ( post cibum = after meal )b.i.d. ( bis in die = twice a day )t.i.d ( ter in die = three times a day)q.i.d ( quarter in die = four times a day)b.i.n ( bis in nocte = twice a night)O.D. ( oculus dexter = right eye)O.S. ( oculus sinister = left eye )p.r.n ( pro re nata = as needed )q.h ( quaque hora = every hour )q.m( quaque mane = every morning )q.n( quaque nocte = every night )5.Backformation (逆生法)（1）Definition: It is a usaul process to form nouns from exsisting verbs by adding suffixes such –or, -er, - ar. For instance, teacher is made from teach and suffix –er. Backformation refers to the reversed process, That is , verbs are made from existing nouns by deleting seeming or imagined affix.（2）Examples:Chain-smoke ←---------- chain-smokerAutomate ←-------------- automation Diagnose ←---------------diagnosis Ovulate ← ----------------ovulation Palpitate ← -------------palpitation Contracept ←------------contraception Transcript ←------------transcription。