Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
mots-valises
English translation:
portmanteau words
Added to glossary by
Isodynamia
Jul 29, 2005 11:59
18 yrs ago
5 viewers *
French term
Greece
Native in: Greek 
, English
Works in: English to Greek, Greek to English, Greek, and 1 more.
mots-valises
French to English
Art/Literary
Linguistics
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!
Thank you!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +9 | portmanteau words |
Rowan Morrell
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| 5 | portmanteau words |
Peter Freckleton
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| 4 +1 | blend |
cchat
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Proposed translations
+9
3 mins
Rowan Morrell
New Zealand
New Zealand
Native in English
New Zealand
Committed to the Customer
Native in: English (Variant: New Zealand) 
Works in: French to English, German to English, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
portmanteau words
According to the Grand Dictionnaire Terminologique, anyway!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Diana Chemparathy
1 min
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Thanks Diana.
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| agree |
writeaway
: confirmed by other dicos as well
2 mins
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OK, thanks writeaway.
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| agree |
sarahl (X)
6 mins
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Thanks Sarah.
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| agree |
Estelle Demontrond-Box
10 mins
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Thanks Estelle.
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| agree |
Aisha Maniar
10 mins
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Thanks Aisha.
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| agree |
Jane Griffiths (X)
15 mins
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Thanks Jane.
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| agree |
Valentin Alupoaie
18 mins
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Thanks Valentin.
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| 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 mins
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Thanks for the reference, Flo.
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| 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 mins
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I don't see it as that unnatural. Who would say most high-falutin' academic words "naturally" in English anyway?
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| 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 hrs
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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 mins
Peter Freckleton
Australia
Australia
Native in English
Specializes in field
Australia
I am a litigation attorney and linguist
Native in: English
Works in: French to English
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...
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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 mins
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But it is the customary term
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| neutral |
df49f (X)
: right... but answer already given by Rowen earlier
7 hrs
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yes...as I discovered after replying
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+1
24 mins
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.
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 mins
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Thanks, Gad
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| 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 hrs
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see remark added. Hope this makes things clearer for you.
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Discussion