A neologism is a newly coined word or expression that may be in the process of entering common use but has not yet been accepted into mainstream language.
Everything you are reading, saying, and writing came from somewhere at some point in time. Which is great because without it you wouldn’t be able to engage in life as we know it. Language is without question one of the greatest inventions ever created.
It allows us to achieve and experience so many things. The value of words is literally infinite. But what does the word neologism refer to and why does it matter?
Neologism is a word that refers to newly created words. That’s why it’s important. It’s a word that acknowledges the presence of time and can give historical context to language. Typically a word becomes a ‘real word’ once it gets entered into a dictionary. New words are created all the time.
One of the most important jobs of a lexicographer(someone who compiles dictionaries) is to identify new words. Each and every day on planet Earth, millions of people are communicating with one another. So, it’s important to know what things mean, so that we can be understood and co-exist. Language and communication is one of the main things that sets us apart from animals. Without it we would be much more impulsive and reactive creatures. Our lives would likely be less sophisticated and we’d be limited to what we could create and achieve.
What does neologism mean?
Neologism, like many words, is a word made up of parts. These parts can help us identify what the word means and is referring to. Not all words and terms are this logical, but in the case of neologism it is a word fit for purpose.
Neo- means new.
-logism is a derivative of the word logos which means word.
So, neologism literally means ‘new word’.
How to Tell If a Word Is a Neologism
In simple terms, is the word in the dictionary? If it isn’t then it could be a new word.
However, the most important part of establishing if a word is a new word or not is context. People need a foundation from which to base their existing knowledge and understanding. Historically, paper based dictionaries would form this foundation and knowledge of words. It would take days, weeks, and months to compile a dictionary and establish what words existed.
In truth, the work of maintaining a dictionary is an ongoing process that never stops. Dictionaries would get released all the time. So, it isn’t as simple as checking if a word is in a dictionary. Because it could be in an older version of a dictionary. In addition, over time the number of words has naturally increased. So, it’s become harder to keep track of words.
Fortunately, the developments in science and technology mean that computers now play a significant role in the creation and maintenance of dictionaries.
The truth is, it’s pretty much impossible to tell if a word is a new word. Because when it comes to identifying the true point at which a word was created it is always going to be up for debate.
It’s arguably more important just to work on establishing understanding between yourself and others using the vocabulary you have.
How many new words are created every day?
First of all, it’s worth acknowledging that obviously English is not the only language in the world. So, with that particular information in mind, we know that it’s pretty much impossible to identify how many new words are created each day. Not all of life and existence can be monitored, tracked, and quantified. Even if we took English as the focus language, we wouldn’t be able to put a number on it.
That said, with reference to English, The Global Language Monitor estimates that a new word is created every 98 minutes, about 14.7 words a day or 5400 words a year.
Are Slang Words Considered Neologisms?
Yes, slang words are real words (Unless you are playing Scrabble).
The answer to this question really comes down to your understanding of language and linguistics. Are you a prescriptivist or a descriptivist? I personally choose to be an ambiscriptivist. Because it’s good for my sanity. Here is an article I wrote on What is ambiscriptivism? (The important word you don’t know).
For the sake of harmony, peace, collaboration, and progress yes slang words are real words.
Why Do We Create New Words?
We create new words for lots of reasons. One reason is because we are humans and we get bored and need to entertain ourselves.
A second reason would be developments in things like science and technology. Like new discoveries. Something gets created or discovered so we give it a name.
Another reason we create words is when people in cliques seek privacy and secrecy. So, they can communicate with their peers in what is basically a secret code.
Sometimes we create words it’s because we identify a way to become more efficient and articulate; so we can better communicate and express ourselves. Take the word ‘brunch’ for example. It is a portmanteau, the blending of two words, breakfast and lunch.
Any scenario you can think of where a new word might be created is probably a legitimate reason as to why we create new words. Whether we actually need to create new words or not is an entirely different matter.
What Is a Polysemous Word?
This is where things start to get messy. Especially when it comes to neologism and the creation of new words.
A polysemous word is a word that has multiple meanings. Throughout time we’ve looked to adopt a communication model so we can achieve clarity. However, as language continues to develop we see more and more words having multiple meanings. Because ultimately it is the will of the people that determines what ‘real words’ are. If a word is used often enough it gets entered into the dictionary.
So, over time you could get a word that has two or more meanings that are actually in conflict with each other.
Naturally, this is bad for communication because it can lead to huge confusion.
Article: What does polysemous mean?
Common Neologisms and Their Meanings
Here are a few neologisms that have become widely used in recent years — some even making their way into major dictionaries:
Selfie – A photo taken of oneself, usually on a smartphone.
Binge-watch – Watching many TV episodes in one go.
Ghosting – Suddenly ending communication without explanation.
Hangry – Irritability caused by hunger.
Crowdsourcing – Getting help, ideas, or money from a large online group.
Staycation – A holiday taken at home or nearby.
Unfriend – Remove someone from your social media contacts.
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) – Anxiety about missing experiences others are having.
Glamping – Glamorous, luxury-style camping.
Mansplaining – Condescending explanation by a man, usually to a woman.
What Is the Future of Neologisms?
Undoubtedly, more words are going to be created. I believe in the future words and communication will start to harness a spiritual power. That is to say that I believe there is a spiritual connection between the physical, mental, and emotional application of words; the way we sense and express them through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. If people can harness that they can improve things like performance and well-being.
As a small example, if you take the way the body reacts involuntarily when we laugh, cry, get angry, anxious, or exhilarated. Those patterns, shapes, and postures can be replicated voluntarily at will. But it may be that the associations between the meaning and the expression or words are not optimal at present. Because we are using the same tools that we have been for hundreds of years without seeking to seriously refine our use of them. So, in many ways we are slaves to language rather than masters of it.
In time I believe we will start to truly master language and its application to make life even more enjoyable and productive.