Abstract. The article is devoted to a comprehensive descriptive study of the linguistic and non-linguistic features of the English language and their role in the change of language as a result of contacts with the outside world. The purpose of the research is to identify the level of intra and extra linguistic variables impact to the language, such as socio-cultural, political, economic, and technological influences.
Examining the historical development of language and tracing changes over time can reveal the cumulative impact of intra- and extra-linguistic factors. Cross-linguistic research enables researchers to identify universal linguistic principles as well as language-specific dynamics.
A significant role in the development of vocabulary is assigned to the influence of external factors. The extralinguistic conditions of language development include, first of all, socio-political factors. New realities bring their names into the language.
With the development of science and technology, and the acceleration of
public relations, the expansion of terminological systems is being introduced. “The more complex science and technology become, the more complex are the linguistic means that denote new objects, phenomena and concepts in these areas, i.e., the extra-linguistic factor underlies this process.” [2,4]
The process of word creation depends on a number of extra-linguistic factors, which primarily include the features of the speech situation, the type of speech act, the form of communication, characteristics of the speaker and the addressee, etc.
The emergence of new language units, including words, and the development of the entire system of word formation is influenced by a set of external (extralinguistic) and internal (intralinguistic) factors, including:
– extralinguistic factors – scientific, technical and social progress, strengthening of the information flow and the need to transmit it with the least amount of time;
– linguistic factors – a tendency towards linguistic economy, a desire for analyticalness.
Advancements in science and technology often introduce new concepts, inventions, and phenomena that require linguistic expression. New words are coined to describe these developments, reflecting the expanding knowledge base of society.
Changes in social structures, cultural practices, and societal norms lead to the creation of new words to express evolving social realities. For example, words related to gender identity, social movements, or technological innovations.The increasing volume and speed of information transmission, facilitated by technologies such as the internet and social media, create a demand for concise and efficient communication. This drives the creation of new linguistic units that are easy to understand and transmit quickly.
Languages tend to evolve towards greater efficiency and economy of expression. New linguistic units are often created to streamline communication and convey complex ideas concisely.Analytical language structures, which break down complex concepts into smaller, more easily understood components, are favoured in many linguistic systems. The creation of new linguistic units may involve the decomposition of complex concepts into simpler elements.
Extra-linguistic factors are denoted as non-linguistic, reality-related causes that affect the selection and quality of linguistic phenomena. One of the extra-linguistic factors is the social factor, because the development of language is impossible without society.
The more complex science and technology become, the more complex are the linguistic means that denote new objects, phenomena and concepts in these areas, i.e., the extra-linguistic factor underlies this process.
These factors interact dynamically in shaping the origin of new linguistic units and the evolution of the word-formation system as a whole. While extralinguistic factors provide the impetus for linguistic innovation by introducing new concepts and societal needs, linguistic factors govern the structural principles guiding the formation of new words and linguistic units. Together, they contribute to the richness and adaptability of language in response to changing social, cultural, and technological contexts.
Changes in human experience led to the emergence of new and expansion of old fragments of the picture of the world, which, in turn, need to be fixed on the ‘language’ map of the world. The picture of the world is changing, new sectors are emerging: astronautics, new economy, computer technology, information and communication technologies, genetic engineering, drug addiction, new food, new types of protest etc. With the rapid advancement of technology, especially in the digital age, new words are constantly coined to describe emerging technologies, gadgets, and online behaviours.
‘Deepfakes’ is a prime example of how language evolves to accommodate technological advancements and societal shifts. The term ‘deepfake’ itself is a portmanteau, combining ‘deep learning’ (a subset of machine learning) with ‘fake’ to succinctly describe the process of digitally manipulating media. These techniques enable the seamless replacement of one person's likeness with another's, often resulting in highly realistic but entirely fabricated videos or images. This neologism emerged as a response to the growing prevalence of manipulated videos and images generated using sophisticated machine learning algorithms.
The term ‘deepfake" not only encapsulates the technological process behind this manipulation but also serves as a label for the broader societal and ethical implications associated with such manipulations. It highlights concerns surrounding misinformation, privacy infringement, and the erosion of trust in digital media.
As deepfakes continue to pose challenges to media integrity and authenticity, the term itself remains a prominent fixture in discussions surrounding digital manipulation, serving as a reminder of the evolving relationship between technology, language, and society.
Traditional sectors are expanding: the sector of diseases, medicines, and diagnostics. This means that new words will continue to appear in the language, which in time will pass all stages of socialization and lexicalization that is their acceptance in society.
Changes in the social and political life of any states are reflected primarily in the language, since the language is in constant communication with society. Language doesn't exist in a vacuum; it's intricately tied to social interactions and societal structures. The need for communication within a community drives the creation of new words to express evolving concepts, technologies, or cultural phenomena.
Political and economic developments can also influence language use and word creation. For example, new words may arise to describe economic trends, political movements, or policies.
The word ‘Brexit’ is a portmanteau of the phrase "British exit". According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term was coined in a blog post on the website Euractiv by Peter Wilding, director of European policy at BSkyB, on 15 May 2012. It is used to refer to the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union. ‘She promised to implement Brexit because it was the will of the voters.’ [3]
In the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, the field of ecology was one of the main suppliers of neologisms in the English language in connection with new trends and directions of socio-ecological development. Changes in society regarding the solution of environmental problems require clarification, deepening of existing scientific concepts and lead to the formation of new language units to denote the modern realities of life.
The field of ecology has been instrumental in introducing neologisms into the English language, reflecting the evolving socio-ecological landscape and the need to articulate new concepts and phenomena. Here are some examples of neologisms related to ecology that have entered the English language:
The term ‘biodiversity’ was coined by Walter G. Rosen to describe the variety and variability of life forms on Earth, encompassing diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.
The term 'sustainability' was first used in German forestry circles by Hans Carl von Carlowitz in Sylvicultura Oeconomica in 1713, but it became popular in 20th century. The term 'sustainable development' first appeared in an official document signed by thirty-three African countries in 1969. In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Today, there are nearly140 developing countries in the world looking for ways of meeting their development needs, but with the growing threat of climate change, concrete efforts must be made to ensure development today does not have a negative impact on future generations. Sustainability is a way of using resources that could continue forever.
The term ‘ecotourism’ was coined by Héctor Ceballos-Lascuràin in 1983, and was initially used to describe nature-based travel to relatively undisturbed areas with an emphasis on education.
The term ‘carbon footprint’ was first used in a BBC vegetarian food magazine in 1999, though the broader concept of environmental footprint had been used since at least 1979. It represents the total amount of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, emitted directly or indirectly by human activities, such as transportation, energy consumption, and industrial processes.
‘Greenwashing’ (a compound word modelled on ‘whitewash’), also called green sheen, is a form of advertising or marketing spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an organization's products, aims, and policies are environmentally friendly. The term ‘greenwashing’ was coined by New York environmentalist Jay Westerveld in a 1986 essay about the hotel industry's practice of placing notices in bedrooms promoting reuse of towels to "save the environment."
The word ‘Anthropocene’ comes from the Greek terms for human ('anthropo') and new ('cene'), but its definition is controversial. It was coined in the 1980s, then popularised in 2000 by atmospheric chemist Paul J Crutzen and diatom researcher Eugene F Stoermer. It means the current geological age, viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on the planet’s climate and ecosystems.
Observing how often certain words or linguistic features are used in communication can help determine their importance and the extent of their impact. High-frequency words or structures are likely influenced by both intra- and extra-linguistic factors.
These neologisms reflect the growing awareness and concern for environmental issues, as well as the interdisciplinary nature of ecological discourse, encompassing science, policy, and socio-economic considerations. They serve as linguistic tools to articulate complex environmental concepts and challenges, fostering communication and advocacy for sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
Professor Belova A.D. argued that “One of the eye-catching facts is that innovation provokes nominations for well-known phenomena and technologies. Cognitive basis of the nomination is created by the principles of analogy and contrast. For example, the relatively recent phrase ‘fixed-line telephone’ denotes a long-known wire telephone service. However, this nomination appeared due to new generation of phones (mobile phone / cell phone). Long before, landline telephone communication, which had no alternatives, did not require any clarification, and one word telephone was quite enough. Thus, the nominative units that appeared much later in connection with the creation of new technologies in the field of communications, became the reason for the emergence of new nominations for outdated items.” [1, 67]
One of the extralinguistic factors that contributes to the emergence of new words through conversion is the social context. In casual conversations, people may convert nouns into verbs or vice versa, such as ‘friend’ becoming ‘to friend’ on social media platforms – to invite someone to be your friend on a social networking website: ‘I friended her and texted her’ or "’text’ becoming ‘to text’ as a verb meaning ‘to send a text message’; ‘table’ becoming ‘to table’ that means to delay discussion of a subject: ‘The suggestion was tabled for discussion at a later date.’ This phenomenon reflects the fluidity and adaptability of language in response to social interactions and cultural norms. Additionally, in informal settings, speakers may prioritize clarity and immediacy over adherence to formal grammatical rules, leading to the emergence of innovative linguistic forms through conversion. This kind of conversion is driven by the need to communicate effectively and efficiently in social situations.
Cultural practices, beliefs, and values heavily influence language use. New words often emerge to describe cultural practices, rituals, or artifacts unique to a particular society or group. Investigating social variation in language use, including factors such as age, gender, social class, and ethnicity, can help identify the interplay between intra- and extra-linguistic variables. Certain linguistic features may be associated with specific social groups, reflecting both internal linguistic norms and external social influences.
To sum up, although the influence of external factors plays a significant role in the development of language vocabulary, not all lexical changes are directly dependent on extralinguistic reasons.
REFERENCES
1.А.Д.Белова, НОМИНАТИВНЫЕ ПРОЦЕССЫ В СОВРЕМЕННОМ АНГЛИЙСКОМ ЯЗЫКЕ КАК ОТРАЖЕНИЕ ЭВОЛЮЦИОННОГО И ИННОВАЦИОННОГО РАЗВИТИЯ ОБЪЕКТОВ /Лінгвістика ХХІ століття: нові дослідження і перспективи. Ст.65-74 https://langcenter.kiev.ua/
2. Dosya M Dubravska , Halyna Soroka. LINGUISTIC AND EXTRALINGUISTIC FEATURES OF THE ENGLISH VOCABULARY https://www.academia.edu
3. Oxford English Dictionary. https://www.oed.com/dictionary
3. Дубравська Д.М. Конверсія в англійській мові: нові тенденції в лексичній еволюції / Studia Germanica Et Romanica: Іноземні мови. Зарубіжна література. Методика викладання. Донецьк: Дон НУ, 2009. Том 6. - № 3 (18). С. 19 – 28.
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