A New Perspective on the Creation of Neologisms

Abstract

This article proposes a new research perspective towards the reasons for devising neologisms.Instead of reflecting upon this topic from the perspective of "a word", the language user's psychological requirements for devising neologisms are being used. This methodology introduces us to some distinct observations, especially regarding the user's inner motivations for devising and using neologisms. Although "functional" and/or "denotative" descriptions of neologisms are mentioned, much regard is paid to distinct psychological needs of the ones devising neologisms. In sum it can be said that some neologisms are not devised for the purpose of describing new objects, but are set up in accordance to user's descriptive tastes and his sense of language.