Portmanteau: Using and Critiquing It

How to Create Portmanteau in Your Writing

Portmanteau words are created by combining two or more words or parts of words to form a new word that conveys a unique meaning. Here are some tips on how to create your own portmanteau:

Step	How to Do it	Example
1.	Choose Two Or More Words	If you want to create a portmanteau, start by selecting two or more words that are related to the meaning you want to convey. For example, if you want to combine “breakfast” and “lunch,” you could choose the words “break” and “lunch” as the basis for your portmanteau.
2.	Identify The Shared Syllable Or Sound	Look for a syllable or sound that the chosen words have in common. This shared element will be the foundation of your portmanteau. For instance, the words “breakfast” and “lunch” share the sound “br,” which can be used as the shared element in the creation of the portmanteau “brunch.”
3.	Combine The Words	Utilizing the shared syllable or sound as the starting point, merge the selected words to form your portmanteau. Experiment with different combinations until you find one that sounds pleasing and effectively conveys the desired meaning. In our example, combining “break” and “lunch” gives us the portmanteau “brunch.”
4.	Define The New Word	Once you have created your portmanteau, provide a definition that clarifies its meaning to others. While you can draw inspiration from the words you combined, the definition should capture the unique concept represented by the new word. For “brunch,” you could define it as “a meal eaten between breakfast and lunch.”
5.	Use The New Word	To popularize your portmanteau, incorporate it into your everyday vocabulary. By using the word regularly, you increase the likelihood of others adopting it. With time, it might even become part of the broader lexicon.

Some examples of portmanteau words created in recent years include “bromance” (brother + romance), “chillax” (chill + relax), “infomercial” (information + commercial), and “staycation” (stay + vacation).

Benefits of Portmanteau

A portmanteau is defined as a linguistic blend of words in which parts of multiple words are combined into a new word. Here are some benefits of using portmanteau:

1. Conciseness: Portmanteaus convey complex ideas or concepts in a concise manner. By combining two or more words into one, you can create a word that expresses a new concept more efficiently than using separate words.
2. Creativity: Portmanteaus allow for creative expression and can be used to create new and unique words that can capture the imagination of the audience. This can be especially useful in fields like marketing, advertising, and branding.
3. Memorable: Portmanteaus can be catchy and easy to remember, making them effective in marketing and branding campaigns. For example, “Brangelina” (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) or “Jumbotron” (giant screen).
4. Fun: Portmanteaus could be playful and fun, adding an element of humor or wit to the language. This can make communication more enjoyable and engaging.
5. Efficiency: Portmanteaus could be used to create efficient technical terminology, especially in fields like science and technology. For example, “Biopic” (biographical film) or “Sitcom” (situation comedy).

Portmanteau and Literary Theory

Portmanteau can be a useful tool for literary theorists and scholars in analyzing and interpreting texts. Here are some examples of how portmanteau can be used in literary theories:

Literary Theory	Significance of Portmanteau	Example from Literature	Interpretation
Structuralism	Blending of multiple meanings and concepts into a single word	“Brunch” – combination of “breakfast” and “lunch”	Portrays the merging of two distinct ideas or concepts, highlighting the fluidity of language and the possibility of new meanings
Postmodernism	Deconstruction and subversion of traditional language boundaries	“Spanglish” – combination of Spanish and English	Challenges the notion of linguistic purity, emphasizes hybridity and cultural blending in a globalized world
Surrealism	Unconscious associations and juxtapositions in language	“Chortle” – combination of “chuckle” and “snort”	Creates a nonsensical, dreamlike effect by merging incongruous sounds and meanings
Dadaism	Playful disruption of language and meaning	“Zyzzyva” – coined word with no specific meaning	Rejects the conventional rules of language, emphasizing randomness and anti-rationality
Feminist Theory	Subverting patriarchal language structures	“Herstory” – combination of “her” and “history”	Challenges the dominance of male-centered language, highlights women’s experiences and contributions

Note: The interpretations provided are general and may vary depending on the specific literary context and the readers’ interpretation.

Suggested Readings

1. Carroll, Lewis. Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. Macmillan, 1871.
2. Crystal, David. The Stories of English. Overlook Press, 2004.
3. Lodge, David. The Modes of Modern Writing: Metaphor, Metonymy, and Portmanteau. Routledge, 1977.
4. Wittgenstein, Ludwig. Philosophical Investigations. Translated by G. E. M. Anscombe, Blackwell, 1953.