back clipping
C1/C2Academic, technical (linguistics); neutral when referring to the phenomenon.
Definition
Meaning
A word formation process where the beginning of a longer word is omitted, creating a shorter form (e.g., 'phone' from 'telephone').
In linguistics, a specific type of clipping or shortening, also known as apheresis, where the initial part of a word is removed, resulting in a new, informal, often colloquial word that retains the original meaning.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The resulting clipped word typically belongs to the same part of speech as the original. The meaning remains intact, but the register is usually more casual or familiar.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The concept is identical in both. Examples may vary by region (e.g., 'mobile' (UK) vs. 'cell' (US) from 'mobile/cellular phone').
Connotations
Purely technical/descriptive in linguistics. In general use, the clipped forms themselves may have different regional prevalence or connotations.
Frequency
The term 'back clipping' is used with equal frequency in linguistic literature in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Word] is a back clipping of [original word].To form a back clipping, one removes the beginning of the word.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in branding/marketing discussions (e.g., 'FedEx' from 'Federal Express' could be seen as a back clipping).
Academic
Common in linguistics, morphology, and language teaching texts.
Everyday
The clipped words are used daily, but the term 'back clipping' itself is not.
Technical
Core term in descriptive linguistics and lexicology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He tends to use a lot of back-clipped words in casual chat.
- The students were asked to identify back-clipped forms.
American English
- She back-clips words all the time, saying 'za' for 'pizza'.
- The linguist discussed how slang back-clips common terms.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- 'Phone' is a classic back-clipped word.
- The back-clipping process is very productive in English.
American English
- 'Blog' is a good example of a back-clipped noun.
- Texting encourages back-clipped forms like 'rent' for 'parent'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'Bus' is a short word. It comes from 'omnibus'.
- 'Phone' is shorter than 'telephone'. We cut the beginning of the word.
- The word 'plane', formed from 'airplane', is an example of back clipping, which is common in informal speech.
- In morphological analysis, 'back clipping' or apheresis, as in 'burger' from 'hamburger', demonstrates the constant evolution and informal streamlining of the lexicon.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'back' as in 'taking it from the back' – you start clipping from the back (beginning) of the word.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORD FORMATION IS SCULPTING (you chip away the unnecessary parts).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'обратная стрижка'. Use the term 'афереза' (apheresis) or descriptive phrase 'усечение слова с начала'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with 'front clipping' (e.g., 'plane' from 'airplane').
- Using it to describe acronyms or blends.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is an example of back clipping?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Abbreviation is a broader category. Back clipping is a specific type of morphological shortening where a new word is formed by removing the beginning of an existing word.
Typically, no. The core meaning is retained, but the register often becomes more informal or colloquial (e.g., 'ad' for 'advertisement').
No. It's a natural, unplanned process in language evolution. It happens to frequently used words, often polysyllabic ones, where the clipped part is easily recoverable from context.
Back clipping removes the beginning (e.g., 'phone' from 'telephone'). Front clipping (apocope) removes the end (e.g., 'ad' from 'advertisement' or 'demo' from 'demonstration'). Some words undergo both (e.g., 'flu' from 'influenza').