Backformation

Generally, when we derive words we attach affixes to bases; in other words, the base comes before the word derived by affixation. For example, we start with the verb write and form the agent noun writer. Sometimes, however, there are words that historically existed as monomorphemic bases, but which ended in a sequence of sounds identical to or reminiscent of that of certain affixes. When native speakers come to perceive these words as being complex rather than simple, they create what is called a backformation. For example, historically the word burglar was monomorphemic. But because its last syllable was phonologically identical to the agentive -er suffix, some English speakers have understood it to be based on a verb to burgle. Arguably for those speakers, then, burglar is no longer a simple word. Similarly, the verb surveil has been created from surveillance and the verb liaise from liaison. At least at first, some native speakers will find the backformations odd-sounding or objectionable. In January, 2007 I heard the governor of Iowa, Tom Vilsack, use the verb incent on National Public Radio; in context, it clearly was a backformation from the noun incentive, and it sounded quite odd at the time. But with time, that feeling of oddness will disappear. Indeed speakers are sometimes surprised to learn that the verb did not exist before the corresponding noun, so ordinary-sounding has the verb come to be. Such is the case for peddle and edit, both of which are historically backformations from peddler and editor, respectively.