Formation of words: view article

XI. FORMATION OF WORDS.

§71. Words are distinguished into primitives (otherwise known as radicals), e. g. tablo table, and derivatives,
e., g. nefasili difficult, drogisto druggist, and compound words, e.g. grandi-patro grandfather.

(a) PRIMITIVES.

§72. Radicals are taken from the Indo-European languages. The “International Academy of the Universal Language” has
laid down the following rule for the selection of radicals: “That word is most suitable for an international language,
which already exists as a national word or as a foreign word in the most of the leading languages of Europe.” In this
the following seven languages were especially considered: English (e), French (f), German (d) [from the first letter
of the word: deutsch], Spanish (s), Italian (i), Russian (r) and Latin (l), and, wherever practicable, such words were
chosen as occur in all seven languages, e. g. apetito, e f d s i r l, appetite; diametro, e f d s i r l, diameter;
ecsaminar, e f d s i r l, to examine; tri, e f d s i r l, three, etc. This work of the Academy has shown that there
are very many words which are already international, — many more than is generally believed. The most of the radicals
chosen occur in at least four of the above-mentioned leading languages; only exceptionally had roots to be taken, that
are common to fewer than four of these languages, e. g. trotoaro, f d r, side walk ; urso, f i l, bear; tinto, d s,
ink. For those notions for which there are no international words, derivatives or compounds (see below) were given the
preference over words of the natural languages; thus were formed, for instance, words such as canaleto, ditch, trench;
sanescar, to convalesce; belifilio, son-in-law.

§73. In order to bring the pronunciation into agreement with the orthography, that is, in order to obtain a really
simple, easily acquired orthography, it was resolved to write:

1. cu, where qu appears in the national word, e. g. cuadrato quadrat, square.

2. that c before e and i is replaced by s, e. g. selebri celebrated, sipreso cypress.

3. that t in the ending -tion is, in accordance with the pronunciation, replaced by s, e. g. nasiono nation.

4. if a word occurs in English, French and German, but with different endings, e. g. Anker d, anchor e, ancre f;
— Meter d, meter e, mètre f; Bibel d, Bible e f, —two or three consonants may be written consecutively at the end,
plus the part of speech ending (o for substantives, i for adjctives), e. g. ancro, metro, biblo.

5. that z of the national languages is replaced by s, (*) e g. basar bazaar, market. (*) For the pronunciation of s
see Chapter 1, §1.

6. ph is replaced by f, e. g. fosforo phosphorus.

7. x is replaced by cs, e. g. ecsaminar to examine.

8. if for the same meaning different roots are extant, e. g. vid and vis, redig and redact, cresc crev and cret, colig
and colect, that root was chosen which is the better known, the more general, e. g. visar to see, redatar to edit,
crescar to grow, kolektar to collect .

10. ae and oe of Latin words were replaced by e, e. g. diet diet, homeopati homeopathy.

11. ch of Greek words was replaced by c before a, o, u, or k before e, i, e. g. kerubo cherub, Cristo Christ.

12. double consonants of the national languages were replaced by simple, e. g. aprendar to learn, erar to err, suposar
to suppose, because double consonants possess merely a historical, and no practical, value, and at the same time are
by no means international, e. g. adresse f d, address e.

13. that j of Latin words was replaced by y, e. g. yugo yoke, oyeto object, mayesteto majesty.

14. g (before e and i) and j in words of French origin are written j and pronounced like the
French j (the sound of sh in the English words), e. g. jalus jealous, curtajo brokerage.

15. the sound sh was written j, e. g. jalupo sloop, jarmo charm.

16. in the ending -ion, i was written, e. g. nasiono nation.

17. in words which in French contain li and gn liquid, an i was written after l and n, e.g. bilieto billet,
vinieto vignette.

18. it was resolved to use: (a) no consonants with any distinctive mark, e. g. c with a cedilla as in French, (b) no
inverted letters, e. g. [*an inverted g], such as phonetic societies make use of.

These rules served in general for guidance, but the Academy did not deem them binding in every instance, and examined
each particular root as to its form and meaning.

§74. All words that, in any respect, do not agree with the rules given below for the formation of derivatives and
compounds, are considered radicals of the Neutral Language II, even if they are derivatives in the national languages,
e. g. dialecto dialect, doctoro doctor, ecsemplo example, optimisto optimist, originali original, perpendiculari
perpendicular

§75. A root remains always unchanged; prefixes and suffixes may be added to it, or a second radical may be joined
with it.

§76. Radicals can belong to all the parts of speech, e. g. <tabl>.o table, <grand>.i great, three, <mei> my,
[mi] .a [I] love, <ergo> therefore, <de> of, if, <fi> fie.

§77. There are radicals of one, two, three, four, and even (in a few instances) five syllables. e. g. verb.o verb,
tortur.o torture, mineral.o mineral, temperatur.o temperature, perpendicular.i perpendicular.

§79. Two, three, and even four consecutive consonants may stand at the beginning and in the middle of a word, if such
spelling is found in English, French and German, e. g. catastrofo catastrophe, magistrato magistracy, monstrar to
show, splendar to shine.

(b) DERIVATIVES

Derivatives are formed by the addition of prefixes or suffixes to the root.

§80. PREFIXES.

1. {anti-} corresponds to the preposition {contra} against: {antialcoholiki} antialcoholic; {antipapo} antipope.
2. {arki-} signified precedence, superiority: {arkiangel} arch-angel; {arkiepiscopo} archbishop.
3. {auto-} signifies self, auto-: {autobiografio} autobiography.
11. {cali-} signifies beauty: {caligrafo} calligrapher.
13. {crono-} signifies time: {cronometro} chronometer.
14. {csilo-} signifies wood: {csilografo} xylographer, wood-engraver.
4. {dis-} signifies a separating, a parting, a sundering: {disfrangar} to break to pieces; {discupar} to cut up.
5. {ecui-} signifies equality: {ecuicruriki} isosceles; {ecuivalar} to be equivalent.
6. {electro-} signifies electricity: {electrotecniki} electrotechnics.
7. {foto-} signifies light: {fotografar} to photograph.
8. {gala-} signifies magnificence or pomp: {galadineo} state-dinner; {galavesto} gala dress (attire).
9. {hidro-} signifies water: {hidrodensi} water-tight.
10. {homo-} signifies proportionateness, similarity: {homotono} consonance.
12. {ke-} signifies interrogation: {kelok?} where? {kecau?} why?
15. {cubiki-} signifies cubic: {cubikiradiko} cube root.
16. {micro-} signifies smallness: {microcapiki} small-headed, microcephalous; {micrometro} micrometer.
17. {mis-} signifies something not good or something miscarrying: {miscredito} discredit;
{miscomprendar} to misunderstand.
18. {ne-} signifies contradictory opposition: {neamico} enemy; {nefasili} difficult.
19. {neo-} signifies something new: {neopersiani} Neopersian.
20. {no-} signifies contrary opposition: {notem} never; {nolok} nowhere; {nocoso} nothing.
21. {para-} signifies preservation from (against) something: {parapluvio} umbrella; {parasolo} parasol.
22. {pleni-} signifies fullness: {pleniluno} full moon; {plenipotenti} plenipotent(iary).
23. {poli-} signifies many-, poly-: {poliangulo} polygon; {politecnicali} polytechnic.
24. {pre-} signifies pre-, before: {preludo} prelude; {prescribar} to prescribe.
25. {proto-} signifies origin: {protoforesto} primeval forest; {prototipo} prototype.
26. {pseudo-} signifies something not authentic, not genuine: {pseudonomo} pseudonym.
27. {re-} signifies repetition or return: {redonar} to give back, to return.
28. {semi-} signifies semi-, half: {semiluno} half moon; {semifilio} stepson.
29. {si-} signifies the present time or the nearest object: {sitem} now; {siloc} here; {sidie} today.
30. {te-} forms words correlative with the interrogative words formed by means of the prefix {ke-}: {teloc} there;
{tecau} for that reason.

§ 81. SUFFIXES.

Besides the suffixes given above in the discussion of the various parts of speech, the Neutral Language has the
following:
{-ad} this suffix has no fixed meaning and forms substantives having some reference to the root; it is used also
for the formation of substantives that denote the result of an action; e.g. {benefasiado} benefit;
{edado} food; {fontado} spring; {garantado} guarantee, surety; {intrado} entrance; {campestrado} country
(not city); {candelad} candlestick; {cavalcado} cavalcade; {conosado} knowledge; {limonado} lemonade;
{mediado} middle; {mercantado} merchandise; {pictado} painting, picture; {platado} dish;
{preferado} preference; {promenado} promenade; {ganiado} earnings; {captado} capture, catch;
{pensado} thought; {rostado roast}; {scribado} writing, treatise, essay.
{-aj} forms collective nouns signifying things: {foliajo} foliage; {linajo} linen (washing); {montajo} mountain
range; {ekipajo} equipage (e.g. horse and carriage); {plumajo} plumage.
{-asi} with a verbal root forms substantives denoting action: {declinasio} declension; {preparasio} preparation.
{-ativ} with a verbal root forms adjectives expressing a capability or possibility: {purgativi} purgative.
{-ator} with a verbal root forms substantives denoting a person acting: {oratoro} orator; {salvator} savior
{-el} forms collective nouns signifying persons: {parentelo} kindred, relations, relatives; {clientelo} clients,
customers, clientele.
{-er} with a non-verbal root forms substantives denoting persons or things having some reference to the root,
and for which the suffix {-ist} (see below), according to its special signification, is not suitable:
{asionero} stockholder; {milionero} millionaire; {senatero} senator; {tablero} cabinet-maker, joiner;
{pinsero} eye-glasses, pince-nez.
{-eri} forms substantives denoting place: {tanerio} tannery; {apierio} beehive; {restaurerio} restaurant;
{caferio} coffee-house, café; {birerio} beer-house, ale-house.
{-esc[ar]} forms verbs denoting to become, to grow, to begin; {verdescar} to become green; {putrescar} to putrefy;
{palidescar} to become pale; {sanescar} to recover, to convalesce.
{-etor} with a verbal root forms substantives denoting a thing acting: {ventiletoro} ventilator;
{numeretoro} numerator.
{-graf} forms substantives that denote persons who write, draw, in a certain way: {fotografo} photographer.
{-io} forms substantives that denote a country: {Espanio} Spain, {Rusio} Russia; {Italio} Italy;
{patrio} fatherland, native country.
{-if[ar]} forms verbs denoting that something specified in the root is made: {grandifar} to make large;
{falsifar} to falsify; simplifikar to simplify.
{-ism} forms substantives denoting a religion or a mental disposition: {protestantismo} Protestantism;
{realism} realism; {cosmopolitismo} cosmopolitanism; {particularismo} particularism.
{-ist} with a non-verbal root forms substantives denoting persons who apply themselves to something, occupy
themselves with something: {velosipedisto} velocipedist; {drogisto} druggist;
{telegrafisto} telegrapher, telegraphist.
{-it} with an adjective forms substantives denoting a quality: {egualito} equality; {amablito} amiability;
{cualito} quality; {rarito} rareness, rarity; {totalito} totality.
{-itat} forms collective nouns signifying groups of people: {homitato} humanity, mankind; {burgesitato}
bourgeosie, proletaritato {proletariat}
{-metr} forms substantives denoting a person or thing measuring something: {termometro} thermometer;
{hormetro} clock.
{-on} forms substantives that denote an enlargement: {rastrono} harrow.
{-or} forms substantives denoting the state or affection of a person or thing acting, e.g. {amoro} love,
{ardoro} ardor, {eroro} error.

All these suffixes may be employed in the formation of new words, and in accordance with the rules given above, by
anyone using the language; the suffix -ad must be avoided though. New words with the suffix -ad must be considered
official only after a consensus by the user community.

c) COMPOUND WORDS.

§ 82. Compound words, that is, words containing two roots, may be formed from all the parts of speech with the
exception of the cardinal numbers (see below), if the sense allows it, by simple juxtaposition, with a hyphen or
(usually) without it; the determining (or modifying) word precedes the determined, e.g. postmarco postage stamp;
grandi-patro grandfather; dupli-acuilo double eagle; toti-potenti omnipotent; benefasiar to benefit; ecsposar to
expose, to exhibit. — Instead of cardinal numbers special prefixes are used, the principal of which are the following:
1 mono-, 2 bi-, 3 tri-, 4 cuadri-, 5 penta-, 6 hecsa-, 7 hepta-, 8 octo-, 9 nona-, 10 deca-, 100 hecto-, and
1000 kilo-, e.g. monooculiki one-eyed; bicavaliki two-horse; pentaangulo pentagon.

§ 83. Remark. As the most common prefixes and suffixes taken from the natural languages have been chosen, the most of
the artificially formed words correspond fully to the natural words with the same meaning; e.g. prescribar, prototipo,
cavalcado, declinasiono, milionero, patrio, realismo, drogisto, cualito are formed according to the rules of the
Neutral Language II, and yet they are perfectly international words. Often, however, the natural words that have
become international are not identical with the regularly formed, artificial words,e .g. anuali — anuiki annual;
infecsiono — infectasio infection. It is allowed to use at will either form.

§ 84. The following abbreviations are used in the Neutral Language II:
e st. for e setri means: etc., and so forth.
i.e. for it es means: i.e., that is.
sh. for som-homo means: somebody, some one.
sc. for som-coso means: something.
p.e. for pro ecsemplo means: e.g., for instance, for example.
s. (before numerals) for sirca means: c., circa, about.
✎ Edit Article ✖ Delete Article

Comments