A portmanteau is the combination of two words into one. This feature enriches the language and makes it more dynamic and creative. It is a figure of speech, which is applicable to both informal and formal speaking. It is also used in writing including novel, art and entertainment. In this article, we will discuss about the portmanteau in detail including its common examples as well as examples in literature.
What is a Portmanteau?
A portmanteau is usually created through the blend of two different words, where both parts of the contained words partially make up one, whole, new word with the same connotation. It is a linguistic tool, which enables the writer and speaker to share more information in a given word to make the communication more effective or stylistically appealing.
This particular term was originated by Lewis Carroll in “Through the Looking-Glass”, wherein he combines two French words: porter (to carry) and manteau (coat), which means a type of suitcase that opens in two parts.
Common Examples of Portmanteau
Portmanteau words are common in everyday language. Here are a few examples:
- Brunch: A combination of “breakfast” and “lunch.”
- Smog: A blend of “smoke” and “fog.”
- Motel: A combination of “motor” and “hotel.”
- Infomercial: A blend of “information” and “commercial.”
- Breathalyzer: A mix of “breath” and “analyzer.”
- Blog: The combination of “web” and “log”, which refers to an online journal or informational website.
- Netflix: The blend of “internet” and “flicks”, which represents the popular streaming service for movies and TV shows.
- Glamping: A mix of “glamorous” and “camping”, which describes a luxurious form of camping with modern amenities.
- Smokejumper: A blend of “smoke” and “jumper” referring to firefighters who parachute into remote areas to combat forest fires.
- Podcast: A combination of “iPod” and “broadcast,” which refers to the digital audio episodes that users can stream or download.
- Emoticon: The blend of “emotion” and “icon” referring to a pictorial representation of emotions using keyboard characters (e.g., :-)).
- Hangry: A mix of “hungry” and “angry”, which describes the irritability caused by hunger.
- Spanglish: The combination of “Spanish” and “English”, which refers to a mix of the two languages often spoken in bilingual communities.
- Cyborg: A combination of “cybernetic” and “organism” describing a being with both biological and mechanical parts.
- Infomercial: The blend of “information” and “commercial”, which refers to a TV program that promotes a product in an informative manner.
These examples demonstrate how portmanteaus can combine two words to form a new term that’s both descriptive and easy to employ in everyday communication.
Examples of Portmanteau in Literature
Example#1
“Through the Looking-Glass” by Lewis Carroll
“He chortled in his joy.”
Carroll originated the word “chortle” by blending the words “chuckle” and “snort”. This portmanteau elegantly captures the sound of joyful, slightly snorting laughter and adds to the amusing tone of the story.
Example#2
“Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll
“‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe.”
In the above lines, the word “Slithy” is the combination of words i.e. “slimy” and “lithe”. It describes the creatures that are both agile and slimy. The word contributes to the lighthearted and strange atmosphere of Carroll’s nonsense poem.
Example#3
“The Botany of Desire” by Michael Pollan
“One has to wonder whether such Frankenfoods are really necessary.”
In this nonfiction work, the writer uses the term “Frankenfood” to demonstrate the genetically modified organisms, which has been combined through the two words i.e. “Frankenstein” and “food”. It reflects that these creations are unnatural and potentially dangerous, such as the monster in “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley.
Example#4
“The American Commonwealth” by James Bryce
“To gerrymander is to arrange a legislature’s districts in such a way as to favor one political party.”
The word “gerrymander” is a portmanteau, which is a blend of two words “Gerry” after Governor Elbridge Gerry, and “salamander”, which refers to the salamander-like shape of an electoral district he helped to create. The term has been used to express manipulative redistricting in political contexts.
Example#5
“In High Fidelity” by Nick Hornby
“It’s like eating with a spork, neither spoon nor fork.”
In this line, Hornby employs the word “spork” as a portmanteau, which is the blend of two words “spoon” and “fork”. It emphasis how a hybrid utensil is both useful and inadequate. The word is suggestive of the internal struggle of a character between contrasting desires.
Example#6
“The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan
“It’s time to take stock of our diets and question whether these Frankenfoods are truly safe.”
In this nonfiction work, the writer employs the portmanteau “Frankenfood” (a mix of “Frankenstein” and “food”) to criticize the genetically modified foods.
The term likens genetically modified organisms foods to Frankenstein’s monster, reflecting that they are unnatural creations with potentially harmful consequences. The use of “Frankenfood” provides the argument of Pollan an emotional and literary weight and invokes both modern and classic fears.
Examples of Portmanteau in Art & Entertainment
1- Brangelina
The term was used to combine the names of two Hollywood celebrities, i.e. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. This term was created by the media people to refer to the couple. Such portmanteaus are often used in entertainment news for naming couples, such as, “Bennifer” meant Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez.
2- Mockumentary
This is a hybrid of “mock” and “documentary”, which refers to a film or show that is structured as a documentary but is fictitious and can be very humorous. The example include “The Office” and “This Is Spinal Tap”.
3- Cosplay
Cosplay is the art of dressing up as characters in films, games or novels. It is derived from a blend of “costume”, and “play”. This is a common term used in fan conventions, film and television productions.
4- Edutainment
The portmanteau is also used to describe media content that combines both education and entertainment. It is designed to be both information and enjoyable. The examples of edutainment includes “Bill Nye the Science Guy” and “Sesame Street show”.
5- Sitcom
The combination of of “situation” and “comedy”, is called sitcom. It is a television program which deals with characters and their situations and also portray funny situations. Both Friends and The Big Bang Theory are famous examples of sitcoms.
See also: Literary Devices That Start With P
