Apokopa i afereza u funkciji jezične ekonomije
Apocope and apheresis in the function of linguistic economy

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses the concept of word clippings which can be found in most languages. Clipped forms that are created as a result of such processes are mostly devided into three groups depending on whether the end of the word is omitted (we then speak of apocopes), the beginning of the word (these are aphereses), or whether omissions occur at both sides of the word. Such type of clippings is most common in substandard levels of the language, primarily in slang and colloquial language. A number of these clipped forms can, however, pass into the standard due to frequent use. One of the reasons for the construction of such clippings is certainly linguistic economy and it can be regarded as one of the major stimuli for the process of abbreviating long expressions. Another reason is affectivity which is highly felt in slang but also in colloquial forms. By investigating different categories of clippings in Croatian and comparing them to almost identical types in English, French and German the attempt is made to find out crucial characteristics of this, rather frequent, appearance in word-formation.

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