Language Innovation in the German Migration Discourse

Abstract

Since 2015 the migration crisis in Europe has posed new political, economic and security challenges in the European Union, particularly for the countries concerned. At the same time, a versatile discourse has emerged which has become visible to the public especially at the level of vocabulary, e.g. in the form of political catchwords as well as multi-word exegesis. These are characteristics of a dynamic discourse, but also signs of continuous linguistic change. This article deals with the problem of linguistic innovation against the background of the current migration crisis. The focus is on the question of how such a complex phenomenon as the refugee crisis is taken up linguistically in public discourse and what sort of changes it initiates. Discourse vocabulary is at the center of attention, because at this level the dynamics of discourse are the most visible. In addition to this, the research interest is devoted to the allusions that appear in the article headings. These are, in fact, creative means of producing new knowledge that also show a special achievement in the context of linguistic innovation in the refugee discourse.