THE PROCESS OF NEOLOGIZATION OF THE BLEND BREXIT IN MODERN ENGLISH

Abstract

The article examines issues connected with modern trends in the English word-formation. At the present stage of the English language development contamination is one of the popular word-formation methods due to some extralinguistic factors: new lexical units are coined to create special mechanisms of word-processing and compressing of information. The topicality of the research is based on the fact that portmanteau words constitute a specific lexical block which is permanently developing and is being used as a word-formation model in advertising, media and modern English literature. The study of functioning and progress of the neologism Brexit in modern English seems to be of current interest and relevant to present day researches in the spheres of linguaculturology and translation. The aim of the work to an all-round synchronic and systematic analysis of contamination in modern English on the basis of the lexeme Brexit and its derivatives. The announced aim presumes the solving of the following tasks: 1) to demonstrate the uniqueness of word-blending as a word-formation model; 2) to underline main reasons for creating a new portmanteau word Brexit; 3) to substantiate contamination as the most effective word-building strategy which compresses information within one lexeme. The increasing number of contaminated words in the English lexicon is caused by the fact that contamination (blending, telescoping) combines the best characteristics of two most productive word-formation methods – abbreviation and compounding – and allows to express the maximum of content using the minimum of formal tools (sounds and letters). The high level of compression of information while using contamination intensifies the productivity of the mentioned word-building method. The lexeme Brexit is analyzed on the basis of criteria for a new word to be codified and absorbed by the literary language. The analysis of online dictionaries and the Internet-media confirms the institutionalization of the blend Brexit in the English lexicon. The article defines future trends in scientific development of this problem.