Having infected almost 500 million people within two years, the Coronavirus disease 2019 has altered our lives fundamentally at a rapid pace. Ever since the first outbreak in Wuhan, society had to adapt to a different lifestyle including social, cultural, and travel restrictions. As a result of societal change, many new words have been developing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the following, I will analyze the coinage of the term COVID-19, its context, and its frequency with the help of the Coronavirus Corpus. Based on Tony Thorne’s list of newly coined slang, this paper will discuss the influence of the Coronavirus disease 2019 on the emergence of new slang words and the word formation processes that created them.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Background
2.1 The Coronavirus disease 2019 and its influence on language
2.2 Neologisms and word formation processes
3. Methodology
4. Data Analysis and Discussion
4.1 Coinage of the Term COVID-19
4.1.1 Change in Frequency
4.1.2 Context of the Term COVID-19
4.2 Creation of Slang Words related to COVID-19
4.2.1 Word Formation Processes
4.2.2 Reasons for the Creation of New Slang Terms
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives & Key Thematic Areas
This paper aims to investigate the linguistic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, it analyzes the coinage of the term "COVID-19," explores its contextual usage, and examines the influence of the pandemic on the emergence of new slang and the morphological processes responsible for these neologisms.
- Evolution and etymology of the term COVID-19
- Statistical analysis of frequency and usage context using the Coronavirus Corpus
- Categorization of pandemic-related slang through word formation morphology
- Sociolinguistic analysis of language as a coping mechanism during crisis
- The role of social media in the rapid dissemination of new vocabulary
Excerpt from the Book
4.2.2 Reasons for the Creation of Slang Terms
Only very few people without medical training were familiar with suddenly omnipresent epidemiological and professional jargon. Therefore, the introduction of new words has facilitated communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vivid language such as “covidiot” helps people to follow rules (Mooney, 2020).
In addition, language is an outlet for emotions such as confusion, anger, fear, and frustration. Humor and “linguistic creativity that hasn’t yet entered the dictionary, but reflects the role of novel language as a coping mechanism” (Ro, 2020) make it easier for humans to endure COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions. By adding nicknames, slang, and abbreviations people can laugh at earnest situations, “[…] it makes things more manageable almost, and just helps with people’s psychological health more than anything else.” (Lawson, 2020). Being one of few opportunities to escape from the health-threatening consequences the SARS-CoV-2 brings, “[…] verbal play is often undertaken for humorous purposes […]” (Carter, 1999, Common language: corpus, creativity and cognition, 2022).
In times of social distancing, language including shared vocabulary is an essential factor that unites people since it “[…] bring[s] people closer together […]” (Carter, 1999). In the absence of physical contact and social interaction, language creates “[…] a set of collective cultural reference points – a kind of lexical social glue.” (Lawson, 2020)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the fundamental societal shifts brought by the pandemic and sets the research goal to analyze the linguistic developments surrounding the term COVID-19.
2. Theoretical Background: Provides the definition of the pandemic from a medical perspective and establishes the linguistic framework for neologisms and morphology.
3. Methodology: Details the sources used for data retrieval, specifically the Coronavirus Corpus, Tony Thorne’s #CORONASPEAK project, and Google Trends.
4. Data Analysis and Discussion: Analyzes the coinage, frequency, and context of the term COVID-19 while categorizing and evaluating the emergence of related slang words.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the interdependency between societal change and linguistic change, reflecting on the future of these pandemic-era coinages.
Keywords
COVID-19, slang, neologisms, word formation processes, linguistic change, morphology, Coronavirus Corpus, #CORONASPEAK, pandemic, social media, sociolinguistics, blending, compounding, derivation, coping mechanism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered vocabulary and triggered the coinage of new slang terms in the English language.
Which thematic fields are central to the study?
The study centers on the intersection of medical terminology, lexicography, word formation morphology, and the sociolinguistic effects of global crises on human communication.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze the linguistic developments, specifically the coinage of "COVID-19" and associated slang, to determine how societal changes initiate linguistic innovation.
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The author utilizes digital linguistic tools, primarily the Coronavirus Corpus for frequency analysis and collocate search, alongside quantitative data from Google Trends and qualitative classification of slang based on morphological processes.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the text?
The text covers the morphological classification of new slang (using categories like blending and compounding), the frequency and contexts of the term COVID-19, and the psychological role of humor-driven language in coping with lockdowns.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include "neologisms," "word formation processes," "COVID-19," "morphology," "slang," and "societal change."
How does the author characterize the term "COVID-19"?
The author defines it as a unique acronym-like coinage created by the WHO, highlighting that it is significantly different from existing terms whose meanings have merely evolved.
What is the significance of the "Coronaspeak" list?
It serves as the foundational data set for the study, providing a curated catalog of over 1000 new words coined by the public and journalists during the pandemic.
Does the author conclude that the frequency of the term "COVID-19" correlates with the spread of the virus?
No, the author notes that spikes in Google searches or corpus frequency do not always align perfectly with the clinical spread of the disease, suggesting other factors influence public interest and linguistic usage.
Why are "blending" processes so prominent according to this study?
The study identifies blending as a highly productive process in internet-mediated communication, driven by the need for expressive, creative, and humorous language on social media platforms like Twitter.
- Quote paper
- Mona Hild (Author), 2023, An Analysis of the Term COVID-19 and its Influence on the Coinage of Slang Words, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1557286
