The main sources and functioning of neologisms in english and kazakh languages

 

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCES OF REPUBLIC KAZAKHSTAN

ABAI KAZAKH NATIONAL PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES

PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION AND TRANSLATION STUDIES DEPARTMENT

 

 

 

 

 

DIPLOMA PAPER

THE MAIN SOURCES AND FUNCTIONING OF NEOLOGISMS                  IN ENGLISH AND KAZAKH LANGUAGES

 

 

 

           Done by: Kyrykbaeva  Zhanar 

                                     The 4^th year student – foreign languages:

two foreign languages.

       Scientific supervisor: Askarova S.                

Candidate of philological sciences,

                                                                                                              associate prof.

 

Confirmed by:

Head of professional communication

and translation studies department

__________ prof. Ismail N.M.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                Almaty, 2012

                                       CONTENT

 

Introduction…………………….…………………………………............………3

 

PART I

DEFINITION AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF NEOLOGISMS

 

1.1   The Definition of the Neologisms..................................................................5

1.2 The appearance of neologisms during the English Renaissance.. …………...12

1.3  Some Renaissance loan words in English………………………………......13

1.4 The History and the development of neologisms in Kazakh and English  …18

1.5 Cultural acceptance of neologisms and types of them………………………23

 

PART II

FUNCTIONING OF ENGLISH, KAZAKH NEOLOGISMS

      

 2.1 The explaining of the meaning of neologism in the context..………………33

2.2 Neologisms of foreign origin in English and Kazakh defining neologism

research……………………………………………………………………..36

2.3 Neologisms from the point of view of semantic and phonetic factors…. ..41

2.4 The features semanticization  Neologisms in Modern Media…………….......43

2.5 Differentiation with respect to time axis of neologisms (based on word- 

      building)…………………………………………………………………......46

2.6 Neologisms and their ways of creation……………………………………..48

 

 

Conclusion…………………………………………………..................................57

Literature…………………………………………………………………….......60

Appendix................................................................................................................62

 

 

 

 

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          Introduction

 

          Neologisms are the main problem of modern scientific research. A lot of new objects and processes are continually created in technology. We can find new ideas and variations in social life, science. Neologisms can be defined as newly coined lexical units that acquire new sense. Neologisms are very common in newspaper vocabulary. The newspaper is very quick to react to any new development in the life of society, in science and technology. Hence, neologisms make their way into the language of the newspaper very easily and often even spring up on newspaper pages. Now, in the early 21st century, neologisms relating to computers and the Internet outnumber all others.

Actuality of this work is that neologisms are very important in our life, especially now, because we have a development of science and technology, the new courses in the field of literature, art and music etc. And there are a lot of new words created in different fields. All these mean that the actuality of this theme is very important. Sometimes people even don't know the meaning of some abbreviations because they are new. Indeed, sometimes with the abbreviations such as AIDS, X-ray etc.

The aim of the present research is to compare English, Kazakh neologisms and their functioning in different spheres of our lives. To determine the objectivity of the results obtained were used the following tasks:

– to overview neologism diachronically (to present the historical development of the phenomenon);

– to investigate the problem of cultural acceptance, as that is the crucial point in the neologism existence, as stability and suitability, which are determined by the public;

– to give the complete classification of word-building means of neologisms, both minor and major;

– to give the overview of all possible sources, where the information on neologisms can be taken;

– to study the top 50 neologisms and analyses them using quantities and qualitative analysis, according to their word building type, source and time of appearance, sphere of usage, ability to create new forms, new notion appearance.

The object of the research is the types of neologisms: the old words with new senses, derived words, abbreviations, collocations, new coinages.

The subject of the research is lexical-semantic features and functioning of neologisms in English and Kazakh languages.

The theoretical basis for our paper is the works by A.A.Leontiev, L.V.Shcherba, E.M.Vereshchagin a Ilish BA, Barkhudarov LS, Smirnitsky A., Jespersen, O., Meye, A., Ivanov IP, WA Korneev, Kobrin H . and other well-known method.

The methods of investigation included the comparative, contrastive analysis, diachronic and synchronic analysis and descriptive study.

 

The scientific novelty of the work.

• there has been defined systematic analysis of historical development of English, Kazakh neologisms;
• defining the term ‘neologism’ and their types;
• the main sources of neologism has been discussed;
• comparative analysis of Kazakh, English neologisms and their functioning in the context, mass media, literature, political texts etc.

The theoretical significance of the diploma work that the results of the work can be useful:

- can be useful by everyone who wants to enlarge his/her knowledge in English;

- the students and school teachers, students who study English theoretically;

  The material which is given in the diploma work is of great theoretical value in the linguistic theory and in the theory of communication.

The practical to the results can be used as an aid for lectures of lexicology and it also can be used as a topic for discussion for students of Language Universities.

The structure of the diploma consists of the following parts: introduction, 2 chapters, conclusion and the list of the used literature.

The introduction to this work is based on the choice of this theme, the actuality of the aim and specific problems. Also considered are the theoretical meaning and the practical value of this work. In the first part we analyzed the structure, the appearance of neologisms during the English Renaissance, and the main types and sources of the neologisms were described. In the second part we tried to give comparative analysis of neologisms from the point view of semantic and phonetic factors, studies of neologisms as a word-building, Kazakh neologisms and the conclusion generalizes all the results of the work and forms its results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                        PART I

  DEFINITION AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF NEOLOGISMS

 

                                 1.1 Definition of the Neologisms

 

          A neologism (from Greek neo = "new" + logos = "word") is a word, term or phrase which has been recently created (coined) – often to apply to new concepts, or to reshape older terms in newer language form. Neologisms are especially useful in identifying inventions, new phenomena, or old ideas which have taken on a new cultural context.

     Neologisms are by definition "new", and as such are often directly attributable to a specific individual, publication, period, or event. The term "neologism" was coined in 1800; so for some time in the early 19^th Century, the word « neologism» was itself a neologism. Neologism can also refer to an existing word or phrase which has been assi8gned a new meaning [8].

     Neologisms tend to occur more often in cultures which are rapidly changing, and also in situations where there is easy and fast propagation of information. They are often created by combining existing words or by giving words new and unique suffixes or prefixes. Neologisms can also be created through abbreviation or acronym, by intentionally rhyming with existing words, or simply through playing with sounds.

    Neologisms often become popular by way or of mass media, the Internet, or word of mouth. Every word in a language was, at some time, a neologism, though most of these ceased to be such through time and acceptance.

     Neologisms often become accepted parts of the language. Other times, however, they disappear from common usage. Whether a neologism continues as part of the language depends on many factors, probably the most important of which is acceptance by the public. Acceptance by linguistic experts and incorporation into dictionaries also plays a part, as does whether the phenomenon described by a neologism remains current, thus continuing to need a descriptor. It is unusual, however, for a word to enter common use if it does not resemble another word or words in an identifiable way. (In some cases however, strange new words succeed because the idea behind them is especially memorable or exciting). When a word or phrase is no longer «new», it is no longer a neologism. Neologisms may take decades to become «old», though. Opinions differ on exactly how old a word must be to no longer be considered a neologism; cultural acceptance probably plays a more important role than time in this regard.

       Neologisms are very common in newspaper vocabulary. The newspaper is very quick to react to any new development in the life of society, in science and technology. Hence, neologisms make their way into the language of the newspaper very easily and often even spring up on newspaper pages. Now, in the early 21st century, neologisms relating to computers and the Internet outnumber all others, for example, cybersickness (a feeling of illness caused by using a computer for long periods of time), keypal (someone with whom one regularly exchanges e-mail), online auction, access provider, MP3, PDA (Personal digital assistant), animatronics.  Finance has also launched numerous new words, such as dead cat bounce (a situation in which the price of shares rises a small amount after a large fall, sometimes before falling further), stealth tax (a tax that you pay on something that you buy rather than tax you pay directly to the government, and which you are less aware of paying than, for example, direct tax on your income). The adapt means to make or undergo modifications in function and structure so as to be fit for a new use, a new environment or a new situation. It has been stated in that being an adaptive system the vocabulary is constantly adjusting itself to the changing requirements and conditions of human communications and cultural and other needs. We shall now give a more detailed presentation of the subject. This process of self-regulation of the lexical system is a result of overcoming contradictions between the state of the system and the demands it has to meet. The speaker chooses from the existing stock of words such words that in his opinion can adequately express his thought and feeling. Failing to find the expression he needs, he coins a new one. It is important to stress that the development is not confined to coining new words on the existing patterns but in adapting the very structure of the system to its changing functions [11].

According to F. de Saussure synchronic linguistics deals with systems and diachronic linguistics — with single elements, and the two methods must be kept strictly apart. A language system then should be studied as something fixed and unchanging, whereas we observe the opposite: it is constantly changed and readjusted as the need arises. The concept of adaptive systems overcomes this contradiction and permits us to study language as a constantly developing but systematic whole. The adaptive system approach gives a more adequate account of the systematic phenomena of a vocabulary by explaining more facts about the functioning of words and providing more relevant generalisations, because we can take into account the influence of extra-linguistic reality. The study of the vocabulary as an adaptive system reveals the pragmatic essence of the communication process, i.e. the way language is used to influence the addressee.

There is a considerable difference of opinion as to the type of system involved, although the majority of linguists nowadays agree that the vocabulary should be studied as a system.

For different purposes of study different types of grouping may prove effective, there is no optimum short cut equally suitable for all purposes. In the present chapter we shall work out a review of most of the types of grouping so far suggested and an estimate of their possibilities. If we succeed in establishing their interrelation, it will help us in obtaining an idea of the lexical system as a whole. We must be on our guard, however, against taking the list of possible oppositions suggested by this chapter for a classification.

We shall constantly slide the basis of our definitions from one level to another, whereas in an adequate classification the definition of various classes must be based on the same kind of criteria. That means we shall obtain data for various approaches to the system, not the system itself as yet [12].

The adaptive system approach to vocabulary is still in its infancy, but it is already possible to hazard an interim estimate of its significance. Language as well as other adaptive systems, better studied in other branches of science, is capable of obtaining information from the extra-linguistic world and with the help of feedback makes use of it for self-optimisation. If the variation proves useful, it remains in the vocabulary. The process may be observed by its results, that is by studying new words or neologisms. New notions constantly come into being, requiring new words to name them. Sometimes a new name is introduced for a thing or notion that continues to exist, and the older name ceases to be used. The number of words in a language is therefore not constant, the increase, as a rule, more than makes up for the leak-out.

New words and expressions or neоlоgisms are created for new things irrespective of their scale of importance. They may be all-important and concern some social relationships, such as a new form of state, e. g. People’s Republic, or something threatening the very existence of humanity, like nuclear war. Or again the thing may be quite insignificant and short-lived, like fashions in dancing, clothing, hairdo or footwear (e. g. roll-neck). In every case either the old words are appropriately changed in meaning or new words are borrowed, or more often coined out of the existing language material either according to the patterns and ways already productive in the language at a given stage of its development or creating new ones.

Thus, a neologism is a newly coined word or phrase or a new meaning for an existing word, or a word borrowed from another language.

The intense development of science and industry has called forth the invention and introduction of an immense number of new words and changed the meanings of old ones, e. g. aerobic, black hole, computer, isotope, feedback, penicillin, pulsar, quasar, tape-recorder, supermarket and so on [13].

          The laws of efficient communication demand maximum signal in minimum time. To meet these requirements the adaptive lexical system is not only adding new units but readjusts the ways and means of word-formation and the word-building means. Thus, when radio location was invented it was defined as radio detection and ranging which is long and so a convenient abbreviation out of the first letter or letters of each word in this phrase was coined, hence radar. (See § 7.3.) The process of nomination may pass several stages. In other words, a new notion is named by a terminological phrase consisting of words which in their turn are made up of morphemes. The phrase may be shortened by ellipsis or by graphical abbreviation, and this change of form is achieved without change of meaning. Acronyms are not composed of existing morphemes according to existing word-formation patterns, but on the contrary revolutionise the system by forming new words and new morphemes out of letters. The whole process of word-formation is paradoxically reversed.

          The lexical system may adapt itself to new functions by combining several word-building processes. Thus fall-out — the radioactive dust descending through the air after an atomic explosion — is coined by composition and conversion simultaneously. Ad-lib ‘to improvise’ is the result of borrowing, shortening, compounding and conversion. Compare also admass coined by J.B. Priestley and meaning ‘mass advertising in its harmful effect on society’ [14].

          It is also interesting to mention the new meaning of word-formation patterns in composition. Teach-in is a student conference or a series of seminars on some burning issue of the day, meaning some demonstration of protest. This pattern is very frequent: lie-in, sleep-in, pray-in, laugh-in, love-in, read-in, sing-in, stay-in, talk-in.

In all the above variants the semantic components ‘protest’ and ‘place’ are invariably present. This is a subgroup of peculiarly English and steadily developing type of nouns formed by a combined process of conversion and composition from verbs with postpositives, such as a holdup ‘armed robbery’ from hold-up ‘rob’, come-back ‘a person who returns after a long absence’.

The intense development of shortening aimed at economy of time and effort but keeping the sense complete is manifest not only in acronyms and abbreviations but also in blends, e.g. bionics < bio+(electr)onics; slintnastics < slim+gymnastics and back-formation . The very means of word-formation change their status. This is for instance manifest in the set of combining forms. In the past these were only bound forms borrowings from Latin and Greek mostly used to form technical terms. Now some of them turn into free standing words, e. g. maxi n ‘something very large’.

Semi-affixes which used to be not numerous and might be treated as exceptions now evolve into a separate set. An interesting case is person substituting the semi-affix -man due to an extra linguistic cause — a tendency to degender professional names, to avoid mentioning sex discrimination (chairperson, policeperson). A freer use of semi-affixes has been illustrated on p. 118. The set of semi-affixes is also increased due to the so-called abstracted forms, that is parts of words or phrases used in what seems the meaning they contribute to the unit. E. g. workaholic ‘a person with a compulsive desire to work’ was patterned on alcoholic; footballaholic and bookaholic are selfexplanatory. Compare also: washeteria ‘a self-service laundry’.

When some word becomes a very frequent element in compounds the discrimination of compounds and derivatives, the difference between affix and semi-affix is blurred. Here are some neologisms meaning ‘obsessed with smth’ and containing the elements mad and happy: power-mad, money-mad, speed-mad, movie-mad and auto-happy, trigger-happy, footlight-happy. It is not quite clear whether, in spite of their limitless productivity, we are still justified in considering them as compounds [15].

Our survey has touched only upon a representative series of problems connected with the functioning and development of the present-day English vocabulary as an adaptive system and of the tendency in coining new words. For a reliable mass of evidence on the new English vocabulary the reader is referred to lexicographic sources.

New additions to the English vocabulary are collected in addenda to explanatory dictionaries and in special dictionaries of new words. One should consult the supplementary volume of the English-Russian Dictionary ed. by I.R. Galperin, the three supplementary volumes of “The Oxford English Dictionary” and the dictionaries of New English which are usually referred to as Barnhart Dictionaries, because Clarence Barnhart, a distinguished American lexicographer, is the senior of the three editors. The first volume covers words and word equivalents that have come into the vocabulary of the English-speaking world during the period 1963-1972 and the second — those of the 70s.

In what follows the student will find a few examples of neologisms showing the patterns according to which they are formed. Automation ‘automatic control of production’ is irregularly formed from the stem automatic with the help of the very productive suffix -tion. The corresponding verb automate is a back-formation, i. e. ‘re-equip in the most modern and automated fashion’. Re- is one of the most productive prefixes, the others are anti-, de-, un-, the semi-affixes self-, super- and mini-and many more; e. g. anti-flash ‘serving to protect the eyes’, antimatter n, anti- novel n, anti-pollution, deglamorise ‘to make less attractive’, resit ‘to take a written examination a second time’, recourse ‘to move a family, a community, etc. to new houses’. The prefix un- increases its combining power, enjoys a new wave of fashion and is now attached even to noun stems. A literary critic refers to the broken-down “Entertainer” (in John Osborne’s play) as a “contemporary un-hero, the desperately unfunny Archie Rice”. Unfunny here means “not amusing in spite of the desire to amuse’. All the other types of word-formation described in the previous chapters are in constant use, especially conversion (orbit the moon, service a car), composition and semantic change [16].