Neologisms and archaisms Coloured and neutral words Word
§ 1. Neologisms and Achaisms Language as an adaptive system undergoes modifications in function and structure so as to be fit for a new use, a new environment or a new situation. New names come into being and older names ceases to be used. Neologism is a newly coined word or phrase or a new meaning for an existing word, or a word borrowed from another language to name new things or an existing thing irrespective of their scale of importance. Popular patterns: 1) Composition (retail elephant, N+ mad or N+ happy or N+ friendly power-mad, money-mad, speed-mad, movie-mad auto-happy, trigger-happy, computer-friendly, alcohol-friendly, environment-friendly 2) shortening, blending wordrobe=vocabulary, a vator=elevator, sarcastrophe, sexaholic, BFE (beyond Fu**ing Egypt) =very far away) 3) new meanings spam – a trademark for canned meat → electronic junk mail 4) Other types of word-formation Examples – Guess What? a netizen a person who spends an excessive amount of time on the Internet. to whatever To dismiss or ignore. Desire to dismiss. snail mail The standard system of physical mail delivery in contrast to electronic mail an emoticon A symbol, usually found in e-mail messages, made up of punctuation marks that resembles a human expression. a pooper-scooper An instrument comprised of a scooping device on a long pole used for the collection of animal waste matter cords A garment or article of clothing made of corduroy fabric. Clues for the meaning: context morphological structure