Infer Meaning of Unfamiliar Clipped Words Using Synonyms |Chalk Talk PH

Clipped Words

Clipped words are words shortened by common use; they are a shortened abbreviation of a word, which makes them easier to spell and write through clipping. Clipping refers to part of a word that serves for the whole, such as ad and phone from advertisement and telephone, respectively. The term is also known as a clipped form, clipped word, shortening, and truncation.

A clipped form generally has the same denotative meaning as the word it comes from, but it's regarded as more colloquial and informal. Clipping also makes it easier to spell and write many words. For example, a clipped form may replace the original word in everyday usage, such as the following examples:

CLIP WORD	ORIGINAL WORD	CLIP WORD	ORIGINAL WORD
ad	advertisement	jet	jet aircraft
auto	automobile	lab	laboratory
bike	bicycle	lunch	luncheon
bra	brassiere	margarine	oleomargarine
bro	brother	mart	market
burger	hamburger	math	mathematics
bus	omnibus	memo	memorandum
butt	buttocks	mike	microphone
caf	cafeteria	movie	moving pictures
champ	champion	pants	pantaloons
chem	chemistry	phone	telephone
chemist	alchemist	photo	photograph
clerk	cleric	plane	airplane
coed	coeducational student	pop	popular
con	convict	pro	professional
co-op	cooperative	prof	professor
copter	helicopter	prom	promenade
deli	delicatessen	quake	earthquake
doc	doctor	ref	referee
dorm	dormitory	specs	specifications
exam	examination	stereo	stereophonic
fan	fanatic	taxi	taxicab
fax	facsimile	teen	teenager
flu	influenza	tie	necktie
fridge	refrigerator	typo	typographical error
gas	gasoline	van	caravan
grad	graduate	varsity	university
gym	gymnasium	vet	veterinarian
hippo	hippopotamus	wig	periwig
iron	flatiron	zoo	zoological garden

 

Using Synonyms to Get the Meaning of Clipped Words

A synonym is a word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in certain contexts. The adjective form is synonymous. Synonymy is the relationship that exists between words with closely related meanings. The word comes from the Greek meaning "same name."

It occurs in a language in different contexts, such as formal and informal language, like you use in conversation or academic paper. Also, some synonyms have slightly different connotations when they are used, even though they might mean the same thing. For example, look at the differences between the terms for money: moolah, greenbacks, cash, currency, and revenues, which all occur in different contexts and levels of formality. It may also be nested inside one another, which is referred to as a kangaroo word.

When used as a context clue, it has words and phrases that have similar meanings to help the reader understand the meaning of the unfamiliar word. Look at this example:

The ad will appear in three magazines. And hopefully this notification will improve the sale of the company.

Ad (advertisement) and notification have similar meanings, so they are synonyms. If you know what ad means, you can infer what notification means.

Sometimes a text gives a synonym of the unknown word to signal the meaning of the unfamiliar word:

An event which caused a deep impression on the public mind was the epidemic of flu and respiratory disease in 1918.

In this sentence the word flu is a synonym of respiratory disease. The word and sometimes signals                          

                                                  

Sources: Retrieved at https://www.sightwordsgame.com/vocabulary-words/word-play/clip-words/

Retrieved at https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-clipping-words-1689855

Retrieved at https://study.com/academy/lesson/using-context-clues-to-complete-a-sentence.html

Retrieved at https://www.thoughtco.com/synonym-definition-1692177

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