Language and words as its basis are tools to communicate meaning.
Language is the key to successful cultural and social living which depends on exchanging
(encoding and decoding) meaning. Therefore new words are assigned to refer to new
meanings. New words and especially coinages (invented, totally new terms) appear in the
emerging fields of society: in the televised contemporary history, in (counter)culture, in
advanced technology and even in daily smalltalk.
'McJob', 'artsy', 'daisy-cutter', 'MIDI', 'emoticon', 'carjacking' or 'cyberspace' to name just a
view recent examples, show the great variety of new words. Due to the complexity and the
on-going developments this paper makes no demand to giving a complete description. The
attempt is to analyse basic concepts and further to sketch relevant areas of neologisms
(dictionary-approved new words). 1 Definitions
In order to the major question of this paper, it's important to define clearly what "new
words" are – "a new word is a form or the use of a form not recorded in general dictionaries".
(Algeo 1991: 2) The crucial condition for the inclusion in dictionaries is frequent usage.
A dictionary which is a source of neologisms is the Oxford Dictionary of New Words.
The editor, S. Tulloch defines a condition: "[…] whether or not the general public was made
aware of […] a new word is any word, phrase, or meaning that came into popular use in
English or enjoyed a vogue during the eighties and […] nineties." (Tulloch. ODNW 1991: v)
The lexiographical procedure seems to be quite important in defining neologisms.
An example by D. Crystal gets things straight (cf. Crystal 1995: 132). As mentioned in the
introduction the basic purpose of new words is to fill representational gaps new meanings or
new mental concepts open. One type of new word is nonce words (from the 16th century
phrase 'for the nonce', meaning 'for the once') which are produced to solve communication
difficulties: Somone who wants to describe excess water on a road uses the word fuddle –
meaning something bigger than a puddle but smaller than a flood. [...]
Table of Contents
- 0 Intro
- I Basic Concepts
- 1 Definition
- 2 Lexical Institutionalization
- 3 Typologies
- 4 Motivation
- II Classifications
- 1 Shortenings
- 2 Combination forms
- 3 Lexical Phrases and Conversions
- III Relevant Areas
- 1 Contemporary History
- 2 Postmodern Literature
- 3 Technology
- IV Bibliography
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze the basic concepts behind the creation of new words (neologisms) and to explore the relevant areas where these new words emerge. It focuses on the processes of lexical institutionalization and the various typologies used to classify neologisms, examining the motivations behind their creation.
- Definition and criteria for neologisms
- Lexical institutionalization and its role in establishing new words
- Typologies for classifying neologisms
- Motivations behind the creation of new words
- Relevant areas for the emergence of neologisms (history, literature, technology)
Chapter Summaries
0 Intro: This introductory section establishes the paper's central question: where do new words come from? It highlights the importance of language as a tool for communication and underscores the emergence of new words in various societal contexts, including contemporary history, counterculture, advanced technology, and everyday conversation. The introduction provides examples of recent neologisms ("McJob," "artsy," etc.) and clarifies that the paper will focus on analyzing basic concepts and relevant areas of neologism development, rather than providing an exhaustive overview.
I Basic Concepts: This chapter lays the groundwork by defining "new words." It emphasizes the crucial role of frequent usage and dictionary inclusion in determining what constitutes a neologism. The chapter uses the example of the word "fuddle" to illustrate how a nonce word—created spontaneously to address a communication gap—can evolve into a widely accepted neologism through usage, media attention, and eventually, inclusion in dictionaries. Furthermore, the chapter discusses the concept of lexical institutionalization, exploring the transition from individual usage (parole) to widely accepted vocabulary (langue) within the framework of Saussure's model. Finally, it introduces typologies that classify neologisms along a continuum from complete innovations to established idioms.
II Classifications: While not explicitly detailed in the provided text, this section would delve deeper into specific classifications of neologisms. Given the mention of shortenings, combination forms, and lexical phrases/conversions, the chapter would likely explore the linguistic mechanisms involved in creating new words through these processes. It would likely analyze how these different methods of word formation contribute to lexical innovation and the evolution of language. Specific examples of each classification would be offered and analyzed, demonstrating the diverse ways in which new vocabulary enters the language.
III Relevant Areas: This chapter would examine the domains where neologisms frequently appear. Given the references to contemporary history, postmodern literature, and technology, it is expected to demonstrate how societal and cultural shifts influence the creation of new vocabulary. The chapter would likely analyze the linguistic characteristics of neologisms in each area, exploring how the specific context shapes word creation and use. The analysis would potentially connect the emergence of neologisms with broader trends in society, culture, or technological advancement.
Keywords
Neologisms, lexical institutionalization, word formation, language change, nonce words, typologies, motivation, contemporary history, postmodern literature, technology.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview on Neologisms
What is the main topic of this document?
This document is a comprehensive preview of a paper analyzing neologisms – the creation and use of new words. It covers the basic concepts, classifications, relevant areas of emergence, and key themes related to neologism development.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include defining neologisms and their criteria; the role of lexical institutionalization in establishing new words; the typologies used to classify neologisms; the motivations behind neologism creation; and the relevant areas (history, literature, technology) where neologisms emerge.
What are the main sections of the paper?
The paper is structured into four main sections: I. Basic Concepts (definition, lexical institutionalization, typologies, motivation); II. Classifications (shortenings, combination forms, lexical phrases and conversions); III. Relevant Areas (contemporary history, postmodern literature, technology); and IV. Bibliography.
What are the basic concepts discussed in the paper?
The basic concepts cover the definition of neologisms, emphasizing the importance of frequent usage and dictionary inclusion. It explores lexical institutionalization – the process by which a word transitions from individual use to widespread acceptance. It also introduces various typologies used to classify neologisms based on their origin and formation.
How are neologisms classified in the paper?
The paper discusses classifications of neologisms into shortenings, combination forms, and lexical phrases/conversions. While not detailed in the preview, the full paper would delve deeper into the linguistic mechanisms behind these classifications and provide examples.
Which areas are relevant to the emergence of neologisms?
The paper highlights contemporary history, postmodern literature, and technology as relevant areas for the emergence of neologisms. It suggests that societal and cultural shifts in these areas significantly influence the creation and use of new words.
What is lexical institutionalization?
Lexical institutionalization refers to the process by which a new word transitions from informal, individual usage to becoming a widely accepted and established part of the language, often evidenced by inclusion in dictionaries.
What examples of neologisms are mentioned?
The preview mentions "McJob" and "artsy" as examples of recent neologisms, illustrating the diverse contexts in which new words emerge.
What is the overall aim of the paper?
The paper aims to analyze the basic concepts behind the creation of new words (neologisms) and to explore the relevant areas where these new words emerge. It focuses on the processes of lexical institutionalization and the various typologies used to classify neologisms, examining the motivations behind their creation.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
The keywords include: Neologisms, lexical institutionalization, word formation, language change, nonce words, typologies, motivation, contemporary history, postmodern literature, technology.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Robert Scheutz (Autor:in), 2003, Where do new words come from?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/14767
