NEW VOCABULARY AS A REFLECTION OF SOCIETY

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of nominative processes and lexical changes occurring at the present stage of the development in English. The neologisms in modern English language have been studied in this research. The purpose of the article is to consider the ways of neologisms formation and to study areas of their usage. The objects of the research are new words which have appeared in the language during the recent year. A brief review of theoretical approaches to the problem of studying neologisms has been given. The role of neologic processes in modern English has been described. Reasons for the appearing of neologisms have been analyzed, areas of their usage have been determined. Examples of the most interesting new words and expressions, their original sources have been given; the most widespread spheres of their functioning have been specified; their main components and natural features have been determined. To classify the analyzed lexical units, the distribution of neologisms according to thematic groups has been carried out. Ten following thematic groups have been distinguished: computer technologies and social networks; politics; economy and trade; human being in the modern world; emotions and feelings; recreation and entertainment; everyday life (clothes, shoes, appearance); food; sport; ecology and environment. The reasons for the appearance of neologisms in these spheres have been considered. The ability of lexical innovations to reflect events, phenomena, changes and modern tendencies that occur in society has been studied. Functions of neologisms in modern mass media have been analyzed and reviewed. The use of neologisms for reaching the communicative aims has been studied. It is determined that the high frequency of their use in the mass media contributes to the actualization of certain words and expressions. The basic reasons for new words appearance have been determined: new objects, nominations, tendencies to economy of language means, language fashion and play on words, special emotional expressiveness.