MILITARY ABBREVIATIONS IN MODERN ENGLISH

Abstract

Summary. The article is dedicated to the analysis of modern tendencies in the formation of abbreviations in Modern English military terminological system. The abbreviation is widespread in world languages and belongs to the so–called language universals and is a way of compressed presentation of verbal information. Researchers distinguish the following causes of its appearance: rapid development of information technology, scientific progress, the increasing flow of information, the rapid development of mass communication media. They contribute to the creation of such conditions for communication that stimulate the increasing appearance of abbreviations. The complex denotations that appear require corresponding complex names from compound words or word combinations, multi–component terminological compounds. Using the principle of least effort or the law of economy of linguistic means, speakers shorten multi–component terminological compounds to initial abbreviations, apply clipping, which later acquire the status of words in the language, and bring about the appearance of derivatives. There is a noticeable increase in new types of shortened words, the so–called partially shortened ones. The study highlights changes in English abbreviations and reveals the linguistic causes of current processes in English military terminological system. The most productive models are identified and the following thematic groups are singled out: “weapons”, armored fighting vehicles, “electronic warfare”, “aviation”, and “intelligence”. The paper sets forth new mixed abbreviation types, shows their entry in the English language, and appearance of their derivatives. In all thematic groups, the prevalence of initial abbreviations, homonymy of terms and homoacronymy are noticeable. As a result of the systematization of the material of research, we have come to the conclusion that nominal word formation prevails. The analyzed abbreviations are mostly initialisms; acronyms and alphanumeric abbreviations are widespread. Migration processes in terminology can be traced. They occur when terms go beyond highly specialized usage and replenish commonly used vocabulary, but most such cases do not indicate their determinologisation.