Abstract
The article sheds light on some of the new developments in English under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic: namely, various types of neologisms, which have appeared over the past year and a half. The paper offers an overview of these new formations, supplemented by discourse analysis. The study is based on the material gleaned from online editions of The Economist newspaper, with the examples selected using the method of continuous sampling. Research results indicate that the majority of neologisms are portmanteau words; however, abbreviations, compounds and new coinages referring to people’s work arrangement are also encountered. In addition, some data on the increase in dictionary searches for words connected with the pandemic are adduced. COVID-19 has boosted the capacity of the English language for expanding its vocabulary, and the changes brought about by this process should be thoroughly studied and understood.
Highlights
The article sheds light on some of the new developments in English under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic: namely, various types of neologisms, which have appeared over the past year and a half
It is a well-known fact that any living language is like a living organism, immediately reacting to significant changes in the outside world – whether it is discovering new continents, bringing about industrial revolutions or technological breakthroughs, or waging world wars
English is no exception in this respect
Summary
The article sheds light on some of the new developments in English under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic: namely, various types of neologisms, which have appeared over the past year and a half. It is necessary to consult an authoritative American dictionary, Merriam-Webster, which has for a number of years registered increase in the search for words during major events, among them – the time of the pandemic (Graph 1) [The Economist, March 25, 2020]: Graph 1.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
