Fax, derived from facsimile, serves as an example of which linguistic phenomenon?

The correct answer is that "fax," derived from "facsimile," is an example of an abbreviation. In linguistics, an abbreviation occurs when a longer word or phrase is shortened to create a more concise version of it. "Fax" represents a shortened form of "facsimile," retaining the essential meaning while streamlining communication, which is a hallmark of effective language use.

In this context, the other options do not fit as well. While blending involves merging parts of two words to create a new one (like "brunch" from "breakfast" and "lunch"), that does not apply to the formation of "fax." Compound word formation involves combining entire words to form a new term, which is also not relevant here. Lastly, a neologism refers to a newly coined word or expression, but "fax" is not newly created; it is an abbreviation of an existing term. Therefore, "fax" accurately exemplifies the concept of an abbreviation in linguistics.