ESA PEDIA: Blended Words

 

Hi, ESAHolics! How are you all doing today? We hope your days are filled with joy and excitement! But remember, it's very important to keep learning on your English skills, because English is important. We need to keep improving our English skills, for example: let's take a look at this month blog! This time, we will talk about "Blended Words". Sounds interesting, doesn't it? Let's dive in!

Blended words also known as portmanteau words combine parts of two or more words to form a new term that captures the meaning of the originals. Usually, this involves joining the beginning of one word with the end of another. In some cases, both words' beginnings are merged, like in "hangry" (hungry + angry).

Why do we need to know about “Blended words”? Because it is enrich the English language by providing new ways to express ideas and concepts. They reflect the dynamic and evolving nature of language, demonstrating how speakers adapt their vocabulary to fit new experiences and technologies. Whether used for efficiency, creativity, or trendiness, blended words are a fascinating aspect of linguistic innovation.

So, now it’s time for you to take a look of some examples of “Blended Words”!

1. Frenemy (Friend + Enemy): This word describes someone who pretends to be a friend but is actually an enemy. For example, a friend who often gives backhanded compliments or competes with you in a negative way can be called a "frenemy."

2. Affluenza (Affluent + Influenza): This term refers to the problems caused by excessive wealth, where people feel unhappy or lack purpose despite their riches. It's like a social "disease" that comes from living in luxury.

3. Bit (Binary Unit): Bit is short for "binary digit," the basic unit of information in computing. A bit can be either 0 or 1 and is the building block of all digital data.

4. Glamping (Glamorous + Camping): This term describes a style of camping with amenities and comforts not usually associated with traditional camping, such as luxury tents and high-quality food.

5. Blog (Web + Log): A regularly updated website or web page, typically run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.

So, how do you feel now that you know about blended words? Once you dive in and understand, it’s actually pretty simple, right? Learning English can be a lot of fun! Stay tuned for the next ESA Pedia blog post. Keep following our blog, and enjoy all your activities, everyone!

SOURCES (Journals) :

Klein, E., & Golbeck, J. (2024). A Lexicon for Studying Radicalization in Incel Communities. arXiv preprint arXiv:2401.07928.     

https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.07928