Processes in which linguistic entities are "weakened" formally and in their meaning (e.g. Kien-Fohre > Kiefer) have been well researched, but "strengthening processes" (e.g. Caribbean hamaca > folk-etymological explanation Hange-matte) in which linguistic entities are first created have hardly been researched at all. The intention of this volume is to fill this gap by exploring both normal folk-etymologies and more subtle ones. The examples presented include: the interpretation in children's language of heiser as the comparative form of heis...