40.1 Definition of Word Blend and Phrase Blend

Fragments may recombine either at the word level or at the phrase level. Saying “tair” as a result of looking at a chair and a table is a word blend. Saying “right out” as a result of a tendency to say both “far out” and “right on” is a phrase blend. The key distinction is in the size of the fragments that form the recombination. If the fragments are only letters, or phonemes, then the new response is a word blend. If, on the other hand, the fragments consist of entire words, then the new blend is a phrase blend.