A Study Of The Formation Mechanism Of English Neologisms

Language is ever-changing and ever-evolving. The development of language is firstly grounded on the lexical changes. As a center part of building and maintaining a language, neologisms play a crucial role in the research of the nature of linguistic changes, their inner essence and regularities. The purpose of the present work is to investigate the neologisms in the modern English language and reveal the major mechanism taking place within the processes of the new words formation.A new cognitive theory, Inheritance of Denotation/Connotation Theory, is adopted in the thesis. It holds that in A is B, the inheritance occurs, be A explicit or not. In the process of such inheritance, A cuts the connotational and denotational elements of its own into segments, and picks up the suitable one to pass over to B, establishing the formula of A is B.For English neologisms, regardless of"new words in old forms"or"new words in new forms", they are the results of inheritance of denotation/connotation of existing concepts/ words, but their motivations and inheritance processes are obviously different. For a new word in an old form, within a specific context, an occasional item from connotative contents of the existing word will be picked out and passed over on the basis of stereotypical relations. During the inheritance process, enough prominence will be given constantly until the occasional item becomes a realistic meaning of the existing word. For a new word in a new form, restricted by a specific context, some of denotative contents, or some necessary items from connotative contents of existing concepts/words, will be picked out and transmitted to form a new concept/word on the basis of stereotypical relations. During the inheritance process, the new concept/word will gain enough prominence to become a realistic one. The thesis consists of six chapters. Chapter One introduces the significance of the study, research questions, methodology, data and the organization of the thesis.Chapter Two reviews the previous definitions, classifications, relevant studies on English neologisms at home and abroad, and then puts forward a working definition and a new classification. In this thesis, new words are divided into two types,"new words in old forms"and"new words in new forms". The former refers to an existing word with a new meaning or a regaining prominence, and the latter refers to a word is not only with a new meaning but also with a novel form.Chapter Three gives the theoretical framework"Inheritance of Denotation /Connotation Theory"a detailed explanation. And two related important terms"necessary item"and"occasional item"are introduced. The former refers to an item from connotative contents of a concept/word which is of higher accessibility and more likely to be reached and understood, and the latter is just opposite.Chapter Four analyzes"English neologisms in old forms"after reinterpreting the working definition and the new classification of English neologisms. The formation mechanism is revealed: the creation of a new meaning of an existing word is the result of inheritance of an occasional item from its connotative contents.Chapter Five analyzes"English neologisms in new forms"and then reveals their inner formation mechanism. For a new word in a new form, it is the result of inheritance of denotation or some necessary items from connotative contents of existing concepts /words.Chapter Six summaries the major findings of the study, and discusses the implications and limitations of the present study.