LEXICAL AND DERIVATIONAL PECULIARITIES OF ENGLISH NEOLOGIZMS IN THE SPHERE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES

LEXICAL AND DERIVATIONAL PECULIARITIES OF ENGLISH NEOLOGIZMS IN THE SPHERE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Ekaterina Faleeva

teacher of Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages,

Uzbekistan, Samarkand

The modern dictionaries of English language show a wide range of neologisms from professional lexicon, speech of young people, etc. Neologisms according to Academic Dictionary are “1. new words and expressions created to designate new objects or to express new concepts. 2. new words and expressions, the unusualness of which is clearly felt by native speakers” [1].

Neology is the science that deals with the problems of investigation of specific features of neologisms. Neologisms can be classified into two main groups according to lexicological layer:

a) related to general language i.e. newly formed and newly borrowed from other languages and

b) author's neologism or also known as “individually-stylistic” neologisms.

Nowadays a great amount of neologisms is formed from terminological layer because of the development of science and technology.

We tried to analyze the most specific neologisms from new technology sphere, basing on internet glossaries and modern lexicographical resources.

Cp.: digital detox – “deliberately avoiding digital devices such as computers, smartphones or tablets for a while or only in certain areas”, zenware – “specially designed computer programs that allow the user to focus on work, avoiding distractions” [8], phablet –“a smartphone that is larger than the screen of conventional smartphones, but still not as big as a tablet”, etc.

Some neologisms cannot be included in printed versions of dictionaries simultaneously. However, electronic versions of some popular lexicographical resources can submit new words in specific dictionary article with label “Under Review”.

Cp.: computer neologism zenware was included in Collins Dictionary with this label by the user Daved Wachsman. Such information shows that this word is analyzed by the editorial team, but is not exact dictionary article.

Let’s analyze some derivational features of computer neologisms. The term phablet, formed by blending (portmanteau word) of two words – “phone” and “tablet”. The initial part of first word, i.e. two letters from word “phone” and the whole second word “tablet” with the omission of letter t are used in order to form this neologism. Model of derivation (W1 – the first word, W2 – the second word, N – neologism – further in the text): the initial part of W1 + initial clipping of W2 = N.

The example textretary with label joke, that means “a person typing a message for another while driving”, shows us the similar model of derivation that differs in the way of omission and usage of certain part of the word. Here the blending of two words (“text” и “secretary”) is formed by the preservation of the whole structure of the first word and the initial clipping of the second word.

Another example can be presented by gloat + Instagram = gloatgram “photos on Instagram showing the author's great life, travel or food” [3] (Instagram is a social network banned on the territory of the Russian Federation. A product of the Meta organization, which has been declared extremist - ed.)

Some neologisms from group “computer neologisms” can present not only terms from professional sphere, but also informal speech. For example, a label infml. (i.e. informal) is used in the dictionary article of neologism digital detox (derivational model: W1 + W2 = N (consisting of two separate words)) [6].

Cp.: “Just the way “selfies” and “digital detox” have become accepted parts of the current vernacular, certain buzzworthy terms should be getting a cease and desist order, soon” [2].

The words related to informal speech has high degree of emotionally-expressive coloring, which differ them from neutral vocabulary. The etymology of neologisms can include several periodical levels. In this case, we can present a time model of certain neologism for future prognostication of semantic derivation of such kinds of words.

Cp.: digital detox consists of two words – digital and detox, which together forms new term in the sphere of modern technical devices. The first one has four main etymological “time periods” according to Macmillan Dictionary:

Etymological “time periods” of neologism digital detox

The first period gives the following etymological note from Latin language: “connected with fingers”.

The second period (i.e. approximately 1938 year) changes the semantics of word to the following understanding: “the usage of numbers”.

The third period uses the meaning “related with computer devices” [5].

So, basing on these changes of the first component of neologism, we can clear observe the evolution of semantics of one word because of some additional extra linguistic reasons (the creation of computer in modern society, i.e. era of new technologies). Of course, the language develops in the fast way and the word digital may include more meanings in the future or lose the need in usage in the active language.

Crowdsourcing dictionaries becomes one of the active resources of fixation of neologisms. The new words and expressions are added not only by editorial team, but users of dictionaries as well. The frequency of addition of neologisms in such dictionaries is higher than in their printed analogues. Urban Dictionary is an example of such type of lexicographical resources. Urban Dictionary usually has a big amount of definitions to one word.

However, some neologisms may be fixed in only one dictionary entry, because of different linguistic and extra linguistic factors. For example, neologism is not frequently used in active vocabulary, a group that uses this new word is little (i.e. some professions, subcultures), the lack of interest in new word, etc. Cp. neologism phone-yawn (“a phenomenon when one person takes out a mobile phone to, for example, check the time, as a result of which all the surrounding people also take out their phones. The “contagiousness” of this action is compared to yawning”) has only one dictionary entry, while cyberstalking (“term for the process of virtual stalking or monitoring”, etc.) has 3 entries and selfie (“take pictures of yourself on your phone or tablet” [UDO]) has 85 variations of dictionary article.

The big amounts of neologisms are used in the titles of modern scientific and other literature: “Digital Detoxification - The Long Term Social and Psychological Side- effects of Digital Dependency” [7, c. 1], “Exploring the Selfie: Historical, Theoretical, and Analytical Approaches to Digital Self-Photography [4, c. 1], etc.

We classified neologisms from new technologies sphere into several groups:

1 group “photos by mobile phones and other terms connected with this thema”: ugly selfie “a self-portrait deliberately made unpresentable by the author”, success theater “the posting of such images and stories that would convince other users that this person (who posts this kind of information about himself) is living a more successful and eventful life than he really is”, etc.

2 group “online space, electronic addresses and terms connected with this sphere”: personality spam is a set expression that “refers to incessant online posts and messages relating to personal life and interests”, kickstarter “is a site that raises funds for the implementation of creative, scientific and productive projects: the project works on a crowdfunding system”, etc. We can find examples of opposition in semantics in some neologisms of this group. For example, kickstopper is formed by compounding: kickpush (the initial clipping of first syllable) + stopper and is the antonym for neologism kickstarter.

3 group “limitation of digital devices”: digital detox “is time spent away from computers and other digital devices”, tech-life balance “moderate use of modern technical devices; so that it does not affect personal life and relationships”, etc. The neologism tech-life balance is an abbreviation from word technology. Model: technology + life + balance. The final clipping of word technology is used.

4 group: “mobiles phones and terms connected with them”: second screening “refers to the use of mobile devices to recommend, share, and comment on social networks for films, shows, and videos that a person is currently watching on TV or on the Internet”, etc.

5 group “computer and terms connected with this thema”: autofail is a noun that denotes “an error in text (message) made by automatic spell checking software. Such an error is usually incorrect or meaningless”, etc. The neologism autofail is formed by the following model: W1 (the final clipping) + W2 (with the preservation of the whole structure of the word) = N.

6 group “the usage of finger in modern digital devices”: thumbstopper (compound word that consists of two words)“something attractive and intriguing causes a person to stop scrolling through a list of posts while using their thumb (on a touch screen)”, digital tattoo “hard-to-remove digital fingerprint that a person creates by posting information online and accessing online resources”, etc.

Thus, new words and expressions quickly replenish the vocabulary of the English language. The blending becomes one of the most productive types of derivation of English neologisms in the sphere of computer lexis because of the opportunity of combination of two or more words in one.

References:

1. Academic Dictionary Online. URL: https://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enc3p/211126
2. Cambridge Dictionary Online. URL: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
3. Definder Dictionary Online. URL: https://www.definder.net/
4. Eckel J., Ruchatz J., Wirth S. Exploring the Selfie: Historical, Theoretical, and Analytical Approaches to Digital Self-Photography. - Cham: Springer, 2018. – 392 p.
5. Macmillan Dictionary Online. URL: https://www.macmillandictionary.com/
6. Oxford Languages and Google Dictionary Online. URL:https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/
7. Singh D.J. Digital Detoxification - The Long Term Social and Psychological Side- effects of Digital Dependency. - Mendon Mendon Cottage Books, 2018. – 81 p.
8. Techopedia Encyclopedia Online. URL: https://www.techopedia.com/