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🎻intro to humanities review

Neologisms and coinages

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Neologisms and coinages refer to newly created words or phrases that emerge to describe new concepts, ideas, or phenomena that do not have existing terms. These linguistic innovations reflect cultural shifts and technological advancements, helping languages evolve to meet the changing needs of society. They can be formed through various processes such as blending, compounding, or borrowing from other languages.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Neologisms can arise in response to technological advancements, like 'selfie' for a self-portrait taken with a smartphone.
  2. The internet and social media have accelerated the creation and spread of neologisms, allowing them to gain popularity rapidly.
  3. Some neologisms may eventually enter mainstream vocabulary and be included in dictionaries if they gain widespread usage.
  4. Coinages can also reflect cultural phenomena, such as 'mansplaining,' which describes a particular type of condescending explanation given by men to women.
  5. Neologisms may originate from various sources, including literature, advertising, and pop culture, often reflecting societal trends and changes.

Review Questions

  • How do neologisms reflect societal changes and advancements?
    • Neologisms serve as linguistic tools that capture new concepts and phenomena arising from societal changes and advancements. For instance, technological innovations lead to the creation of terms like 'smartphone' or 'cloud computing,' which describe emerging technologies that did not previously exist. As society evolves, so do the languages we use to communicate, showcasing how neologisms are directly tied to the cultural and technological landscape.
  • Discuss the processes through which neologisms are created and provide examples of each.
    • Neologisms can be created through various processes, including blending (like 'brunch'), compounding (such as 'snowman'), and borrowing from other languages (like 'café'). Each method reflects different aspects of language evolution. For example, blending combines parts of two words into a new one, while compounding joins whole words together. Borrowing highlights cultural interactions where terms are adopted from one language into another.
  • Evaluate the long-term impact of neologisms on language evolution and standardization.
    • Neologisms play a critical role in language evolution by introducing new vocabulary that reflects changing realities. Over time, some neologisms gain acceptance and become standardized within a language. This transition often involves their inclusion in dictionaries and formal recognition by linguistic authorities. The process illustrates how language is not static but rather dynamic, adapting to meet the needs of its speakers while influencing cultural identity and communication practices.