Complex Words in English (2nd ed)

This text presents an account of present-day word formation in English.

Starting with a discussion of some basic issues, including the definition of "word", motivation, lexicalization, productivity, the relevance of historical information and the usefulness of dictionaries and other databases, the book then moves on to describe a variety of prefixing, suffixing and compounding patterns - all illustrated with examples.Other topics that are explored include diminutives, backformation and other effects of reanalysis, Latin and Greek based formations and sound symbolism.

Recent writing and the records of OED on CD ROM are drawn on to demonstrate the relationship between spontaneous coinages and familiar items.