Neologisms

A neologism is a newly coined term, word, or phrase, that may be in the process of entering common use, but has not yet been accepted into mainstream language.

Neologisms can develop in three main ways: a lexical unit existing in the language can change its meaning to denote a new object or phenomenon- semantic neologisms, e.g. the word “umbrella” developed the meanings: “авиационное прикрытие”, “политическое прикрытие”. A new lexical unit can develop in the language to denote an object orphenomenon which already has some lexical unit to denote it. Insuch cases we have transnomination, e.g. the word “slum” was first substituted by the word “ghetto” then by the word group“inner town”. A new lexical unit can be introduced to denote anew object or phenomenon. In this case we have “a proper neologism”, many of them are cases of new terminology.

Here we can point out several semantic groups when we analyze the group of neologisms connected with computerization, and here we can mention words used:

1) to denote different types of computers: PC, super-computer, multi-user

2) to denote parts of computers: hardware, software, monitor, screen

3) to denote computer languages: BASIC

4) to denote notions connected with work on computer: computerman, computerization,