The Standardization of Neologisms in the Croatain Language

Milković, Alen. (2010). The Standardization of Neologisms in the Croatain Language. PhD Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Croatian Language and Literature. [mentor Silić, Josip].

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Abstract

This thesis defines the term neologism as any language phenomenon which has a neological status. The neological status is based on combining the properties new and accepted, and partly on the property integrated into the language system. The term neologism has a group of related terms that are not always defined in the same way. Those terms are analyzed and their definitions are given. We concentrated on a group of neologisms called neolexemes. Neolexemes are divided into absolute neolexemes and relative neolexemes (the group of lexemes which are neolexemes only when observed in mutual correlation). Relative neolexemes are divided into denotative neolexemes (denotativnicas) and substitute neolexemes (zamjembenicas). While thinking of substitute neolexemes (zamjembenicas), we have to start from the idea that it is acceptable to create them, but not to accept them as standard words too quickly. We have to wait for a certain period of time to see how the substitute neolexemes (zamjembenicas) will be accepted in usage. If frequently used, they might reach the normative status. Substitute neolexemes (zamjembenicas) can also contribute to the diversity of style. Standardization of terms has to be based on the principle that determines lexemes with the same meaning as primary and secondary. Domestic lexemes should be primary. An attitude toward language can be divided into language necessity (jezična nužnost), language purism 1 (jezično čistunstvo), language purism 2 (jezični purizam) and playing with language (jezična igra). Language purism can't be accepted because politics influences language politics in order to achieve some nonlinguistic goals. The survey provided results. The neological status of a lexeme averagely lasts for one year. Foreign neolexemes have a slight advantage as compared to domestic neolexemes. Averagely every second neolexeme is accepted by the examinees. One third of examinees think that they should spontaneously understand the meaning of a foreign neolexeme, and somewhat over two thirds of examinees think that they should spontaneously understand the meaning of a domestic neolexeme. Narrow associativity of neolexemes (when examinees don't know the meaning) results in easier acceptance than that of broader associativity of neolexemes. From the point of view of word formation, the most accepted are semi-compounds, followed by suffixation, prefixation, compoundsuffixal formation, compounding and prefixal-suffixal formation.

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