Word-building is the process of creating new words in a language with the help of its inner sources. The most productive, or major means of WB in Modern English are affixation, conversion and composition. Minor means of WB in English include less productive and non-productive means of WB: back-formation, blending, reduplication, sound- imitation, sound-interchange, shift of stress. Shortening occupies the intermediate position between major and minor means of WB.
