Sources of English Neologisms

Abstract

With the social changes and technological development since the 20th century, many new things have emerged, and with them, the language has also changed. Neologism is a linguistic phenomenon, which is the product and reflection of the development and change of language. According to statistics, there are currently more than 600 million native English speakers in the world, and one-third of the world's population speaks English as a second language. This shows the importance of English as a universal language. Consequently, English inevitably produces many new words with the rapid changes in social life. This paper delves into the origins and mechanisms behind neologisms in the English language. This study aims to explore the dynamic processes that drive vocabulary expansion by examining vocabulary innovation, borrowing, and integration. Based on grasping the concept of English neologisms, this paper discusses the origin and derivation of English neologisms through the study of dictionaries and monographs, and a large number of examples of neologisms. The study found that the sources of English neologisms are mainly divided into three aspects, namely, traditional word formation, new meanings of old words in modern English, and the fusion of foreign words and native words.