The neologisms and their word building means in Modern English

In our work we also dealt with problems concerning the sources of new words as neologisms emerge every day and so fast that dictionaries can not keep up with. While the dictionaries wait for years for the words to be fit to be published, the World Wide Web is acting more efficiently to bring these words to life. Wordspy (creator Paul McFedries) is one of the largest sites keeping track of emerging vocabulary of the English language. We used the data from this site to analyze (50 most popular (frequently used) neologisms), collected in February 2004.

We took these words to determine the major trends in the growing vocabulary; the words were analyzed according to

- the source and time of appearance,

- to the word building type,

- to the sphere of usage,

- to the ability to create new words,

- to the new notion appearance.

The period, which is rich in neologisms, is the nineties, due to rapid change in social relations and hi-tech developments. But as the processes became faster, more new words were coined, the «richest» (36%) time (at the beginning of the XXI century. The major source is Media, tabloids as well as locals, in particular (The Independent, The Washington Post). The Internet also plays a determinative role in forming new words.

Most neologisms in our work were formed whether by word composition or sense development (more than 80%), which are the `easiest', as one doesn't have to invent anything new, just combining two words together or implying a new meaning to an old word. Minor word building types (blending, acronimization) are less employed. That happens due to the flash-like rhythm of modern life.

While analyzing spheres of usage, we came to such a conclusion, that the most, as we can say, renewable branch is that of sociology (45 references out of 113), as it is the most developing sphere of the human life at this point. A great number of the new words deal with men and women relationships, as well as, with homosexual affairs, as a result of the sexual revolution.

The more active usage of the computer and computer technologies (20 references out of 113) give rise to more new words connected with this topic, the same can be applied to the mobile/cell phones, they are more employed and thus have more functions, which results in the appearance of new words.

We can also reckon that the bigger number of neologism has paradigms (36%), that shows - the words are more employed and are being accepted by the language.

More words just acquire new meaning; as a result, a new word is born (46%). The `old' words were not used in a present meaning, due to its previous non - necessity.

As a total issue, we can mark, that the enlargement of the English language vocabulary, as well as any other language, is closely connected with the humans' social life. Every new event in our life finds its reflection in the language, and the faster the life is the simpler the ways, thanks to which our language is enlarged.

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