Glossary entry

français term or phrase:

mots-valises

anglais translation:

portmanteau words

Added to glossary by Isodynamia
Jul 29, 2005 11:59
18 yrs ago
5 viewers *
français term

mots-valises

français vers anglais Art / Littérature Linguistique
I encounted this French term in my research on neologisms. I have some idea what it means, but I'm not sure. Would someone please tell me what the English term is?
Thank you!

Discussion

Gina W Jul 29, 2005:
Why did you close and grade this question so quickly? Just wondering, since it's usually customary to wait 24 hours before closing a question.

Proposed translations

+9
3 minutes
Selected

portmanteau words

According to the Grand Dictionnaire Terminologique, anyway!
Peer comment(s):

agree Diana Chemparathy
1 minute
Thanks Diana.
agree writeaway : confirmed by other dicos as well
2 minutes
OK, thanks writeaway.
agree sarahl (X)
6 minutes
Thanks Sarah.
agree Estelle Demontrond-Box
10 minutes
Thanks Estelle.
agree Aisha Maniar
10 minutes
Thanks Aisha.
agree Jane Griffiths (X)
15 minutes
Thanks Jane.
agree Valentin Alupoaie
18 minutes
Thanks Valentin.
agree Flo in London : Absolument! It was actually coined by Lewis Carroll, see full explanation at: http://www.bescherelle.com/verbes_fiche.php?id_verbe=101
40 minutes
Thanks for the reference, Flo.
neutral Gina W : also according to Termium, but who would say this naturally, in English? Not incorrect but not the best choice, IMO:) [ETA]: uh, exactly...and that makes it still better than blend? Whatever! Just constructive feedback, btw! Take care!
44 minutes
I don't see it as that unnatural. Who would say most high-falutin' academic words "naturally" in English anyway?
agree df49f (X) : the natural/unatural debate is a pointless non-issue: most people live with at best a 500 word vocabulary so word No.501 would sound unatural - the target reader of a research paper on neologisms is obviously not one of these! :)
7 heures
Yes, absolutely! Thank you for that common-sense input, df49f.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you, Rowan, and everyone else for your answers!!"
19 minutes

portmanteau words

Words collapsedinto one, eg 'galumph' from gallop and triumph.

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Note added at 2005-07-29 12:20:06 (GMT)
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Great minds...
Peer comment(s):

neutral Gina W : see my note on above answer
29 minutes
But it is the customary term
neutral df49f (X) : right... but answer already given by Rowen earlier
7 heures
yes...as I discovered after replying
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+1
24 minutes

blend

a portmanteau word is known in linguistics as a blend.
Lewis Carroll used the expression when Humpty Dumpty explained it to Alice.

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Note added at 23 hrs 46 mins (2005-07-30 11:46:35 GMT) Post-grading
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If the field is linguistics, the term is \"blend\".
\"Portmanteau\" has a narrower meaning in linguistics.
See Crystal, \"Dictionary of Linguistics\" for the definition of each.
\"BLENDING is a common source of NEW WORDS\".
I think this is the asker\'s context.
Peer comment(s):

agree Gina W : this is the best choice, IMO
23 minutes
Thanks, Gad
neutral df49f (X) : portmanteau is indeed a "blend" but mot-valise is portmanteau (as shown in the very title of your reference)// thanks... but things were already perfectly clear for me!! :-)
22 heures
see remark added. Hope this makes things clearer for you.
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