How do you coin a word

Creating words can be a powerful way to give your writing a personal flair, or to develop a mode of speech for just you and your friends. Making a new word is as simple as writing or saying it once, but for it to have lasting meaning, you need to work on developing it. This guide will get you started in your creation process.

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    Learn how words work. Words act as signifiers for the object or concept that they are describing. Therefore, in order for a word to have any meaning, it has to be related to some form of object or idea. This relation can be specific or vague. For example “tree” calls to mind the concept of a tree, but could refer to any type of tree. The word “tree” itself is not descriptive in any way of what a tree looks like or any other characteristic of a tree, but it is attached to the meaning and thus will always recall the idea of a tree in the reader’s mind.

    • Words you create will necessarily need to connect to an idea, object, or action in order to make sense. This connection is built through context, or how you use the word and how it is affected by the words around it.
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    Brush up on your grammar. In order to create a convincingly real word, it will need to be grammatically correct. The grammar of your sentence will help provide the context for your meaning. Decide what part of speech your word belongs to. Is it a noun, referring to a person, place or thing? Is it a verb, describing an action? Is it an adjective, a word that describes a noun? Is it an adverb, a word describing an action?

    • Knowing where your word fits into grammatical structure will help you build convincing sentences with it.
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    Study suffixes and prefixes. Many of the words in the English language come from adding a suffix or prefix to an existing word. Try adding a suffix or prefix to a word you wish to modify.

    • Add a “-tastic” to the end of a word to imply that something was fantastic, either genuinely or sarcastically. For example, after going to see a concert, you could say that it was “rocktastic”.
    • Create an adjective by adding “y” to a noun. For example: “It had a newspapery feel to it.”
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    Study other languages. Many English words are derived from foreign languages. Taking concepts from foreign words can give your word a more credible and “realistic” feel. Latin and German are two very good languages to investigate when looking for base words.

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    Identify your theme and tone. When creating new words to describe fictional settings, take your theme and tone into account. Your newly created words should sound natural to the world that they inhabit. Foreign words can help to foster atmosphere, depending on the language:

    • Germanic languages are rough sounding, and have a guttural feel to them. Using Germanic-based words for tough characters can make them sound hardy. Using Germanic language for evil characters will give them a bestial quality.
    • Romance languages are light and airy, and can give your characters a seductive quality. Naming locations with a French- or Italian-based word will create a sense of exoticism.
    • Use Latin-based words to add a scientific feel. Latin evokes wisdom, and so Latin-based words can also imply intelligence. Latin is also an ancient language, and can be used to add mysticism.
    • Asian languages make good base words for exotic sounding locations and objects.
    • Use other languages as a basis for the sound and feel of the word you are creating. Avoid copying a word directly and instead use it as a guide.
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    Make a word that is recognizable. A successful word is one that the reader won’t trip over too hard. Try to relate the word to some recognizable concepts. For example, using the made-up word “bogmouth” to refer to a mouth condition gives the reader a general sense of what the character with bogmouth is experiencing. This is because the word “bog” is familiar, and evokes a similar feeling in most readers.

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    Define your word. Writing out an official definition for your word will help you to use it properly. Format your definition as it would appear in a dictionary, and list out any other forms the word can take. This can be especially useful if you are writing a piece with multiple made up words, both as a reference for you and for your reader.

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    Repeat your word. If you want your new word to stick in the readers’ minds and become second-nature to them, it needs to appear multiple times in your writing. Studies show that readers will understand a new word after reading it ten times with context.[1]
    This means that your word needs to be supported by the language around it to provide the reader with clues on how the word is used and what it means.

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    Understand the concepts of slang. Slang rises out of communities of speakers or writers as shorthand for objects, actions, and concepts. It is a method of exclusion, as only insiders will be able to understand the slang terms.

    • Slang starts as insider language, but can grow outside of that subculture if it becomes popular enough.
    • Slang is constantly evolving, and words and phrases can fall out of favor very rapidly. This is especially true if the slang begins to spread outside of the initial culture in which it was created. Avoid creating slang that is based off terms that are no longer in common use, as it will give your creation an archaic feel.
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    Truncate a word. This is when you cut off a portion of the word, either at the beginning or the end. Mash two truncated words together to form new compounds. You can combine this with adding prefixes or suffixes to create almost entirely new words.

    • For example, instead of saying “all right,” the words can be truncated and mashed together to form the word “aight.”
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    Try verbing a word. This is simply taking a noun and making it into a verb. For example, the word “text” is traditionally read as a noun, but can now also be used as a verb referring to sending a text message.

    • Another example of verbing is the word “party.” Originally, it was a noun describing a gathering of people. Now, it also means to engage in the act celebrating, usually with drinking connotations. The context of the word dictates how it is interpreted.
    • The word gun is a noun, but can be used as a verb when you “gun someone down.” Verbing a noun can add spice and drama to an otherwise bland sentence.
    • Experiment with nouns to find one that works well with the verbing process. Not every noun can be verbed, but you can create a powerful and memorable sentence when you find on that can.
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    Spread your new slang word. Slang grows outward from peers, so in order for your slang term to work, it needs to be spoken and in use. Use it in conversation, but don’t necessarily give away that you’re using a new word. Let your peers infer the meaning through the context of what you’re saying. This will build credibility for your word.

Add New Question

  • Question

    Where do I find a site that I can officially enter a word to be coined?

    Community Answer

    Dictionary Of Obscure Sorrows is a site that coins new words. Have a talk with the manager.

  • Question

    Is the term STEMINISTA already coined?

    Sugarplum Princess

    Sugarplum Princess

    Community Answer

    Yes, because it is the name of a project by Michigan Science Center (MiSci).

  • Question

    What is an example of a word with a coined meaning?

    Community Answer

    The word «meme» was coined by professor Richard Dawkins and means an idea, behavior or style that spreads from person to person within a culture.

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Change a letter, change a word

HITS HAPPEN, blares a car insurance company promoting its “accident forgiveness insurance.”

How do you coin a word?

HITS HAPPEN Create new terms or twist old phrases. Image by mattjeacock

Change a letter, change a word.

How can you add, subtract, move or change letters or syllables to make your copy more creative via wordplay?

1. Add or subtract a syllable.

Smirch was a verb, reports Barbara Wallraff, author of Word Fugitives: In Pursuit of Wanted Words, before William Shakespeare added the prefix be- to it. And impediment was in use for at least 200 years before Shakespeare came up with impede.

How can you add or subtract a syllable to create a new word? Here are four approaches to try:

2. Change a letter.

The Washington Post’s Style Invitational might invite readers to “take any word, add, subtract or alter a single letter, and redefine the word.” Recent responses include:

  • Diddleman, a person who adds nothing but time to an effort
  • Nominatrix, a spike-heeled woman who controls the selection of candidates for party whip
  • Compenisate, to buy a red Porsche for reasons you don’t quite understand

3. Change a letter, then redefine.

The Post also invites readers to add, subtract or change one letter in a word and supply a new definition. Among the top entries:

  • Dopeler effect: the tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly
  • Giraffiti: vandalism spray-painted very high
  • Intaxication: euphoria at getting a refund from the IRS, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with
  • Reintarnation: coming back to life as a hillbilly
  • Sarchasm: the gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the reader who doesn’t get it

4. Oui! Change a letter in a foreign word, then redefine.

New York Magazine invited readers to change a single letter in a foreign phrase, then provide a definition. Some of the best new phrases:

  • Cogito, eggo sum: I think, therefore I am a waffle.
  • Harlez-vous Francais? Can you drive a French motorcycle?
  • Mazel ton: tons of good luck
  • Quip pro quo: a fast retort
  • Veni, vidi, vice: I came, I saw, I partied.

5. Create definitions for groups of things.

In An Exaltation of Larks, James Lipton, now better known as the host of Inside the Actors Studio on Bravo, publishes “venerable terms of venery,” or collective nouns to define a group of objects, such as a pride of lions.

Among the terms Lipton has published:

  • phalanx of flashers (Kurt Vonnegut)
  • mews of cathouses (Neil Simon)
  • an om of Buddhists (George Plimpton)

What’s the term of venery for a group of vice presidents? A meeting of your top clients? A conference of communicators?

  • How can you surprise and delight readers?

    Neurologists call it “the pleasure of the text,” the reward readers get from figuring out figurative language. (It can be quite a reward: If your wordplay is funny enough,Master the Art of Storytelling - Ann Wylie's creative-content workshop, starting March 3 your readers’ brains even deliver a little dose of dopamine.)

    Learn to tap wordplay’s superpowers at Master the Art of Storytelling, our creative-writing workshop starting March 3.

    There, you’ll learn to flip phrases; compress details; sub sound-alikes; list, rhyme and twist — even coin new words with free online tools that do the work for you. You’ll get inspired by some of the world’s most creative headlines. And you’ll polish your skills in a wordplay workout, with recipes from anagram to oxymoron.

    Save up to $100 with our group discounts.

    Register for Master the Art of Storytelling - Ann Wylie's creative-content workshop, starting March 3

    Browse all upcoming master classes.

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You cannot obtain a copyright registration for one word. Copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases. A copyright only exists for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression.

Contents

  • 1 How much does it cost to get a word copyrighted?
  • 2 Can a single word be trademarked?
  • 3 Is a copyright free?
  • 4 How do you start your own phrase?
  • 5 What words can’t be trademarked?
  • 6 Can you trademark a commonly used word?
  • 7 Can you copyright two words?
  • 8 How do I copyright my writing?
  • 9 How do you copyright a document?
  • 10 How do I create a copyright?
  • 11 How do you coin a new word?
  • 12 What sayings are trademarked?
  • 13 What does it mean to coin a phrase?
  • 14 Is Nike Just Do It trademarked?
  • 15 What happens if you use a trademarked word?
  • 16 Is it legal to copyright a word?
  • 17 Can you copyright a word list?
  • 18 Can you copyright a word in the dictionary?
  • 19 Do I own my writing?
  • 20 Can you just write copyright on something?

How much does it cost to get a word copyrighted?

Fees

Registration of a claim in an original work of authorship
Single author, same claimant, one work, not for hire $45
All other filings $65
Paper Filing (Forms PA, SR, TX, VA, SE) $125
Registration of a claim in a group of unpublished works $85

Can a single word be trademarked?

This involves registering a single word as a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). A trademark is a word, phrase, sign, symbol, or logo used to identify a product’s owner. Trademarks give exclusive rights to a person or company to use a specific mark within an industry.

Is a copyright free?

If you don’t officially register a copyright, this is absolutely free. You might need additional intellectual property protection as well, but most copyright protections are free and automatic.

How do you start your own phrase?

You can trademark a phrase at the local level by applying at your state trademark office. To trademark a phrase locally, you must already be using the phrase publicly. You can apply for a nationwide trademark with the USPTO. With the USPTO you can apply with the “intent to use.”

What words can’t be trademarked?

What Can’t Be Trademarked?

  • Proper names or likenesses without consent from the person.
  • Generic terms, phrases, or the like.
  • Government symbols or insignia.
  • Vulgar or disparaging words or phrases.
  • The likeness of a U.S. President, former or current.
  • Immoral, deceptive, or scandalous words or symbols.
  • Sounds or short motifs.

Can you trademark a commonly used word?

Common words and phrases can be trademarked if the person or company seeking the trademark can demonstrate that the phrase has acquired a distinctive secondary meaning apart from its original meaning. That secondary meaning must be one that identifies the phrase with a particular good or service.

Can you copyright two words?

Copyright protects original works of authorship that have been independently created and that are the product of some minimal degree of creativity. Words and short phrases, such as names, titles, and slogans are generally not protected, even if they are original or distinctive.

How do I copyright my writing?

How do you begin the process? Simply go to the Registration Portal of the Copyright Office’s website. It allows you to select the specific type of creative work you seek to register, with such choices as literary works, visual arts, photographs, or performance.

How do you copyright a document?

You can file online with the copyright office and pay a $35 fee, or you can register your work by submitting a Form CO and a non-returnable copy of your work along with a $50 fee. Keep in mind that if you register online, the Library of Congress still needs hard copies of a “best edition” of your work.

How do I create a copyright?

The Process of Copyrights Registration:

  1. Form XIV application should be filed.
  2. The application should be filed separately for each work along with 6 hard copies and 3 soft copies of the work.
  3. The application should be filed and signed by the owner and countersigned by his advocate.

How do you coin a new word?

Here are seven common ways to build a new word:

  1. Reuse an existing word (Apple, spam)
  2. Create a new compound word by sticking two words together (YouTube, website)
  3. Create a blend by combining part of a word with another word or word part (Technorati, Defeatocrat)
  4. Attach a prefix or a suffix to a word (Uncola, Feedster)

What sayings are trademarked?

We take a look at other famous phrases that were claimed as trademarks.

  • ‘That’s hot’
  • ‘Things fall apart’
  • ‘You cannot be serious’
  • ‘This sick beat’
  • ‘I pity the fool’
  • ‘You’re fired’

What does it mean to coin a phrase?

phrase. You say ‘to coin a phrase’ to show that you realize you are making a pun or using a cliché.

Is Nike Just Do It trademarked?

Just Do It or JDI for short (stylized as JUST DO IT. and set in Futura Bold Condensed) is a trademark of shoe company Nike, and it is one of the core components of Nike’s brand. The slogan was coined in 1988 at an advertising agency meeting.

What happens if you use a trademarked word?

For unregistered trademarks, TM (trademark) or SM (servicemark) should appear instead of the ® symbol. The trademark must appear as it’s listed in the USPTO registry. If you’re using a trademark in a non-commercial context, you don’t have to include the symbol.

Is it legal to copyright a word?

Let me tell you this – A word or a phrase cannot be copyrighted as Copyright gives a legal stabding and covers the rights of the creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works and the producers of cinematograph films and sound recordings only. But a word and or a Phrase can be Trademarked.

Can you copyright a word list?

As such, copyright cannot be applied to a word, even a proper name. The copyright office specifically states that names are not covered by copyright law, even when the name applies to a group, like a band.This list includes recipes, domain names, titles, slogans, short phrases, ideas and sightings.

Can you copyright a word in the dictionary?

Companies can use words, phrases, and images to make themselves distinguishable from the competition. These phrases, names, and titles can even include words that come from the dictionary. When properly trademarked, these words will be protected under trademark law.

Do I own my writing?

As soon as you record an idea, for example by writing down the outline of a story, it’s protected by copyright. As long as the work is original, copyright protection is automatic. Copyright ensures works cannot be reproduced or used without your permission. This means you can profit from your creation.

Can you just write copyright on something?

You can place the copyright symbol on any original piece of work you have created.However, in some jurisdictions failure to include such a notice can affect the damages you may be able to claim if anyone infringes your copyright.

Everyday I am amazed at the things that are possible with a little knowledge and effort. After doing the obligatory how to get my blog to be super freakin popular research, I came across a well-known personal blog {& my new bloggy idol} dooce.com. She was featured in Wikipedia as coining the word dooce {damn, how I want to be just like her when I grow up}.


How to Coin a Word


Do I smell a challenge coming on?  I have always been the person who believes that if it can be done…I can do it…if it doesn’t require heavy lifting or repairing carburetors of course.

Coining a word had always been on my bucket list, but now I was on a mission!

After throwing around the words fo’ shizzle dizzle, crapola & fantabulous, I opted for something related to what I do:

List-ol-o-gist: n: A person who is a master at creating lists.
The listologist just completed writing the list of the all-time best movies.

Buck-et List-ol-o-gist: n: A person who has mastered the art of living their life through their bucket list.
The only item left on her “things to do before you die” list is skydiving, then she will be a true bucket listologist.

I submitted them both to Urban Dictionary and got rejected the first time. After making some minor changes, I was successful at coining a word and you can find them both listed in Urban Dictionary {currently, waiting on approval from Websters!}

Would you consider coining a word? What word would it be?

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through my links, I earn a commission that helps to keep this blog running—at no extra cost to you. For more information read my full disclosure.

Get more information on coining a word:
Who Else Wants to Coin a Word?


Asked by: Keshawn Tromp DVM

Score: 4.3/5
(34 votes)

To coin a phrase means to invent a new saying or idiomatic expression that is new or unique. However, the term to coin a phrase is most often used today in a sarcastic or ironic fashion, in order to acknowledge when someone has used a hackneyed phrase or a cliché.

How do you use coin a phrase in a sentence?

Example Sentences

  1. She was, to coin a phrase, as clever as fox.
  2. Sportsmen, to coin a phrase, have become spiteful competitors.
  3. Nowadays our media is nothing more than, to coin a phrase, misrepresentation of actual facts.
  4. To hike and camp in the peaceful wilderness is, to coin a phrase, equivalent to getting reborn.

How do you coin a word or phrase?

You can trademark a phrase at the local level by applying at your state trademark office. To trademark a phrase locally, you must already be using the phrase publicly. You can apply for a nationwide trademark with the USPTO.

Who coined the term coined the phrase?

The word “phrase” was coined in 1530 by John Palsgrave, a language scholar. He confused everyone by giving it two different meanings: today’s more common meaning, which is “a small group of words expressing one meaning,” and “manner or style of speech or writing.”

What does to coin a word mean?

If you coin a phrase, that means you come up with a new way to say something, like the person who coined «webizens» to describe people who constantly use the Internet.

22 related questions found

What is a coined saying?

To coin a phrase means to invent a new saying or idiomatic expression that is new or unique. However, the term to coin a phrase is most often used today in a sarcastic or ironic fashion, in order to acknowledge when someone has used a hackneyed phrase or a cliché.

What is the meaning of phrase in grammar?

In syntax and grammar, a phrase is a group of words which act together as a grammatical unit. For instance, the English expression «the very happy squirrel» is a noun phrase which contains the adjective phrase «very happy». Phrases can consist of a single word or a complete sentence.

Who coined the term 24 7?

It lists its first reference to 24/7 as from US magazine Sports Illustrated in 1983. The man to use it was basketball player Jerry Reynolds and he was talking about his jump shot. This is when a player releases the ball in mid-air and Reynolds said his was «good 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year».

Can you copyright words or phrases?

Copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases. In some cases, these things may be protected as trademarks.

How do you claim a saying?

How to Trademark a Slogan

  1. Go to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website.
  2. Check the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) database. Make sure the slogan isn’t already registered in the same category.
  3. Submit your trademark application. Pay the filing fee.

What phrases are copyrighted?

1. Titles and Names. Copyright protection does not extend to titles, names, slogans or short phrases, the Copyright Office has made that much very clear. You can not copyright your name, the title of your post or any short phrase that you use to identify a work.

What is a hackneyed phrase?

trite, hackneyed, stereotyped, threadbare mean lacking the freshness that evokes attention or interest. trite applies to a once effective phrase or idea spoiled from long familiarity. » you win some, you lose some» is a trite expression hackneyed stresses being worn out by overuse so as to become dull and meaningless.

How do I know if a phrase is trademarked?

You can search all applied-for and registered trademarks free of charge by using the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)‘s Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS). If your mark includes a design element, you will have to search it by using a design code.

Can you trademark a phrase on a T shirt?

If your T-shirt design has symbols, words, or other marks that uniquely distinguish it from other T-shirts on the market you can obtain a trademark to protect your design from others who might wish to capitalize on your intellectual property.

When can a phrase not be trademarked?

You must alter the appearance, sound, meaning and commercial impression of the mark to avoid confusion. Arbitrary or fanciful trademarks are considered the strongest types. Arbitrary marks are known words or phrases that do not have an association with the goods or services, such as Apple’s.

What is the meaning of 7 24?

Definition. 7/24. 7 Days a Week, 24 Hours a Day. Copyright 1988-2018 AcronymFinder.com, All rights reserved.

What is the meaning of 24/7 in chatting?

Comments. 24/7 means twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It is another way of saying «all the time.» 24/7 is stated as «twenty-four seven» in verbal conversation and sometimes used for referencing continuous hours of business operation, such as a grocery store or pharmacy that is open 24/7.

What are the 7 types of phrase?

7 Classes and Types of Phrases

  • Absolute Phrase. …
  • Appositive Phrase. …
  • Gerund Phrase. …
  • Infinitive Phrase. …
  • Noun Phrase. …
  • Participial Phrase. …
  • Prepositional Phrase.

What is phrase give 5 examples?

Noun Phrase; Friday became a cool, wet afternoon. Verb Phrase; Mary might have been waiting outside for you.. Gerund Phrase; Eating ice cream on a hot day can be a good way to cool off. Infinitive Phrase; She helped to build the roof. Prepositional Phrase; In the kitchen, you will find my mom.

What are phrases give examples?

A phrase is a group of words that express a concept and is used as a unit within a sentence.

Here are examples:

  • He was waiting for the rain to stop.
  • She was upset when it didn’t boil.
  • You have been sleeping for a long time.
  • You might enjoy a massage.
  • He was eager to eat dinner.

What does gobsmacked mean in British?

chiefly British, informal. : overwhelmed with wonder, surprise, or shock : astounded Several minutes later I touch the bottom, pleased to discover that Louise—despite all her experience exploring caves elsewhere in the world—is as gobsmacked as I am. «

What does the idiom a raw deal mean?

: an unfair way of treating someone.

Can you trademark a phrase that is common?

Common words and phrases can be trademarked if the person or company seeking the trademark can demonstrate that the phrase has acquired a distinctive secondary meaning apart from its original meaning. That secondary meaning must be one that identifies the phrase with a particular good or service.

Are Harry Potter quotes copyrighted?

No, absolutely not. Everything Harry Potter is well protected with multiple trademarks that are owned by Warner Brothers Entertainment. In fact, it’s difficult to find something related to Harry Potter that isn’t trademarked.

Christopher Johnson, a branding expert who runs the website The Name Inspector, has a new book out called Microstyle: The Art of Writing Little about how contemporary message-makers need to become «verbal miniaturists.» In this excerpt, Johnson explains how «neologisms can be among the most powerful of micromessages.»

In 2007, at PodCamp Pittsburgh 2, a social media «unconference,» some geeks were sitting around discussing web technology— and going off on tangents. According to Andy Quayle, one of the participants, «We were talking about different meats and international types of bacon and were receiving messages on our mobile devices and eventually the two mixed.» A new word was born: bacn, which the group defined as ’email you want—but not right now.’ Bacn refers to the email we sign up to receive— notifications from Facebook, beta announcements from startups, etc.—and never get around to reading. Bacn is spam’s tastier cousin.

Being geeks, these neologists—that is, creators of neologisms, or new words—made a website to promote their word and asked bloggers to write about it. Their promotional efforts paid off. Bacn became a story. Not everyone liked the new word. Some commenters on the Bacn website pointed out that bacon, the food, is simply too delicious to serve as a good metaphor for email you never get around to reading. But the story of Bacn spread. It was covered by CNET, InformationWeek, New Scientist magazine, National Public Radio, Wired magazine, and even People magazine.

Bacn was coined to attract attention, communicate instantly, and be remembered and repeated. It worked. Notice the big story wasn’t that people sign up to receive email and then don’t read it. The story was that someone had come up with a funny, catchy name for the common phenomenon that makes us see it in an interesting light. Neologisms can be among the most powerful of micromessages.

Coined words come in many varieties. There are political epithets like Defeatocrat; terms for new technologies and cultural phenomena like podcast, greenwash, and of course bacn; proprietary names for companies and products, such as Skype, Technorati, Wii, and more.

Almost all new words, from tech company names to political insults, result from a handful of processes familiar to linguists. Most of these processes are green: they reuse or recycle existing words. Here are seven common ways to build a new word:

  1. Reuse an existing word (Apple, spam)
  2. Create a new compound word by sticking two words together (YouTube, website)
  3. Create a blend by combining part of a word with another word or word part (Technorati, Defeatocrat)
  4. Attach a prefix or a suffix to a word (Uncola, Feedster)
  5. Make something up out of arbitrary syllables (Bebo)
  6. Make an analogy or play on words (Farecast, podcast)
  7. Create an acronym (GUBA, scuba)

Making up a new word doesn’t have to mean creating a new sound; it can also mean putting an existing sound to new use.

People often don’t think of these as neologisms, but the end result is essentially a new word. Remember, a word isn’t just a sound or a handful of letters; what makes it interesting, what makes it a word, is that it has a meaning. When people use the word word, they sort of vacillate between meaning just the spoken and written form on the one hand, and the form plus the meaning on the other. For this reason, lexical semanticists—linguists who really take words seriously—don’t even find the word word very useful. They use different terms when they’re talking about the form alone and when they’re talking about the form plus its meaning.

To put a special mark of ownership on a repurposed word, you can respell it. Respelling words serves some technical functions: as we saw in the last chapter, it makes them easier to trademark (as in Rice Krispies, Cheez Whiz, and Krazy Glue), it often creates a unique keyword to increase search engine visibility (as in Squidoo), and it sometimes makes it possible to acquire a meaningful «.com» domain (as in Topix, a localized news service). But respelling comes at a cost: you run the risk of seeming stupid or cheesy, or being confusing.

One of the best respelling techniques eliminates letters that aren’t necessary for pronunciation. This approach achieves spelling economy, a desirable quality in a name. Flickr, for example, eliminates the e in the common -er ending. Eliminating letters that are not pronounced is a natural move, and one that children often do. At the end of his kindergarten year, my son Tobias unwittingly coined a Web 2.0 name when he described himself in a written report as «organisd.»

Reusing a word—that is, giving it a new meaning—can change it forever in people’s minds. Spam, once a brand name for a humble canned meat product, provides a perfect example. Recycling words—recombining them into new, larger units, sometimes breaking them down into their component pieces first—offers almost limitless possibilities for new coinages.

Coining words is an English literary tradition. William Shakespeare was an avid neologist. Some words that we still use today, and many others that we don’t, made their first appearance in one of his plays. Shakespeare’s interest in new words was poetic rather than informational, however; he strove less to name new ideas than to express old ones so that they fit the cadences of his characters’ voices. The poetic use of neologism goes back even further in the history of our language. Old English epic poems such as Beowulf contained numerous kennings, fanciful compounds that replaced simple nouns with sometimes riddlelike descriptions. For example, a ship might be described as a «sea-steed,» or blood as «slaughter-dew.»

Words coined for special occasions without any concern for their permanence are called nonce words. Perhaps one of the best known coiners of English nonce words is Lewis Carroll. Many people have encountered his nonsensical poem «Jabberwocky,» which appears in the book Through the Looking Glass and is filled with words of Carroll’s invention:

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe
All mimsy were the borogoves
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Humpty Dumpty later explains to Alice the meaning of part of this poem:

Well, «slithy» means «lithe and slimy.» «Lithe» is the same as «active.» You see it’s like a portmanteau—there are two meanings packed into one word.

He also explains that mimsy is a blend of miserable and flimsy. We now have other, less literary reasons to create new words.

They help us keep pace with the rapid rate of change in science, technology, business, and society. Neologism is such a salient feature of tech-obsessed American culture that there’s a feature in Wired magazine devoted to it. The web makes tracking new words much easier than it was in the past. Several websites, such as Word Spy, are devoted solely to spotting and documenting neologisms.

Good neologisms sound fresh and perfectly natural at the same time. Naturalness results from respecting the normal cadences of speech and the sounds of the words used, as well as the meanings and grammatical functions of the component parts. Biznik, the name of a social network for independent businesspeople, is a perfect use of the Yiddish-derived suffix -nik, which attaches to nouns and describes people who have an affinity for what the noun names (beatnik, peacenik).

It’s surprising how many new words are poorly constructed. The old IBM computer name Aptiva sounds odd if you think of it as consisting of the word apt and the suffix -ive with a Latinate vowel at the end. The -ive suffix attaches to verbs to make adjectives (creative from create, divisive from divide, etc.), but apt is already an adjective, so Aptiva just seems a little off.

Neologism is the ultimate in microstyle, because it involves poking around under the hood of words and tinkering with their internal structure. Even if you just stick two words together to make a compound, as in YouTube, you create a word-internal syllable boundary, which can be a sticking point in pronunciation. But what really calls for some finesse with verbal mechanics is the blend word, or portmanteau.

In a well-constructed portmanteau, two component words blend together seamlessly through a phonetic overlap or similarity. Consider the word vegangelical, a blend of evangelical and vegan. While vegan doesn’t rhyme with the first two syllables of evangelical, it does have the same vowel sounds (when evangelical has a fully unemphasized and neutral second vowel). There’s also a shared «v» sound, even though it occurs in a slightly different place. The result of combining these words is apt, both semantically and phonologically. Another interesting blend is adhocracy, a combination of ad hoc and democracy.

Bad blends try to squish words together in unnatural ways. Foodportunity, a networking event for food journalists, got its terrible name when someone stuck the whole word food into a spot previously occupied by a syllable consisting of only a single vowel. The huge phonetic difference between these two parts makes the neologism sound unnatural. Other bad blends fail to preserve the patterns of syllable emphasis of their component words. I like to call this phenomenon awkwordplay, a blend of awkward and wordplay, because that name actually demonstrates the phenomenon. If you try to pronounce the word awkward correctly, with no emphasis on the second syllable, then wordplay sounds all wrong. If you pronounce wordplay correctly, with emphasis on the first syllable, awkward gets all messed up. There’s no nice, natural way to pronounce this word. A real example of awkwordplay is the name Teensurance, for a teen insurance policy from Safeco. The one-syllable word teen requires its own emphasis, but it replaces the unemphasized first syllable of insurance, resulting in a clunky name.

Perhaps the easiest way to create a new word is to simply stick two existing words together to make a compound. Political appellations that use this pattern include wingnuts (extreme right-wingers), moonbats (extreme lefties), and Islamofascists (which uses the classical compound-forming o to connect its two parts).

Update: Read a second excerpt from Johnson’s book here.


Reprinted from Microstyle: The Art of Writing Little by Christopher Johnson. Copyright © 2011 by Christopher Johnson. Used with permission of the publisher, Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.


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Придумав новое слово, вы придадите вашему тексту и речи особенности и индивидуальности. Новые слова можно использовать в узком кругу друзей. Придумать новое слово несложно, однако ввести его в обиход будет непросто. Как это сделать, расскажет данная статья.

  1. Изображение с названием Coin a Word Step 1

    1

    Поймите применение слов. Слова используются для обозначения объектов или понятий. Поэтому слово несет смысл, связанный с объектом или понятием. Связь может быть конкретной или абстрактной. Например, когда мы говорим «дерево», то перед нами возникает образ дерева в общем, но не образ конкретного дерева. Само слово «дерево» не описывает дерево, его внешний вид и качества, но несет образ, который появляется при слове «дерево».

    • Новые слова должны иметь смысл, связь с объектом или действием. Данная связь строится либо по контексту, либо на основе применения слова или его связи с другими словами.
  2. Изображение с названием Coin a Word Step 2

    2

    Повторите грамматику. Слово должно быть грамматически правильным. Грамматически правильно построенное предложение обеспечит правильное понимание. Определитесь, к какой части речи относится ваше слово. Существительное, означающее предмет? Глагол, означающий действие? Или прилагательное, описывающее существительное? Наречие, описывающее действие?

    • Знание, к какой части речи относится ваше слово, позволит правильно употреблять его в предложении.
  3. Изображение с названием Coin a Word Step 3

    3

    Изучите суффиксы и приставки. Многие слова в русском языке состоят из приставок и суффиксов. Добавьте суффикс или приставку к слову, которое хотите видоизменить.

    • Поставьте “-ческий” в конце какого-нибудь слова, чтобы добавить особый смысл, например, как в слове «фантастический», «космический». Например, посетив концерт, вы можете высказать свое мнение о нем, сказав: «концерт был рокистическим».
    • Создайте прилагательное, добавив к существительному «ий/ая/ое».
  4. Изображение с названием Coin a Word Step 4

    4

    Изучайте другие языки. Многие слова в русском языке заимствованы из других. Взяв слово из другого языка, вы можете добавить своему предложению реалистичности.

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  1. Изображение с названием Coin a Word Step 5

    1

    Определитесь с темой и стилем произведения. Создавая слова для своего произведения, примите во внимание стиль и тему. Придуманные вами новые слова должны быть естественным образом связаны с тем, что подразумевают. Иностранные слова в зависимости от языка, могут придать особый смысл.

    • Германские языки грубые на слух, в этих языках часто встречаются гортанные звуки. Слова из языков германской группы подойдут для жестких и грубых понятий, например, обозначив ими понятия, связанные со злом, вы придадите словам особое зловещее звучание.
    • Романские языки, в свою очередь, легкие и воздушные, они придадут персонажам вашего рассказа соблазнительные качества. Вы придадите особые экзотические качества населенным пунктам, если назовете их словами, взятыми из французского или итальянского языков.
    • Латинские термины подойдут, если хотите описать что-либо, связанное с наукой. Латынь ассоциируется с мудростью, поэтому человек, использующий слова, взятые из латыни воспринимается как интеллектуал. Кроме того, в виду античности языка, он также ассоциируется с мистикой.
    • Для придания экзотики словам и населенным пунктам, используйте слова из азиатских языков.
    • Используйте другие языки в качестве основы для звучания и чувственности слова, которое вы создаете. Не занимайтесь плагиатом, учитесь на опыте других, используя в качестве примеров.
  2. Изображение с названием Coin a Word Step 6

    2

    Придумайте слово, которое поймут. Слово можно назвать удачным, если читатель не будет испытывать сложности в его понимании. Для лучшего понимания, свяжите его с известными ассоциациями.

  3. Изображение с названием Coin a Word Step 7

    3

    Определитесь со словом. Опишите слово, которое хотите придумать. Сформулируйте термин в таком виде, в каком он может занять свое место в словаре. Запишите все формы возможных грамматических изменений. Это также поможет, если вы пишите рассказ с несколькими придуманными словами. Это будет образец как для вас, так и для вашего читателя.

  4. Изображение с названием Coin a Word Step 8

    4

    Повторяйте свое слово. Термин, появившийся в тексте несколько раз обязательно войдет в умы читателей, они введут его в употребление. Согласно исследованиям, читатель может понять новое для него слово только после того, как прочтет его в контексте раз десять.[1]
    Это значит, что ваше слово в тексте должно быть окружено подсказками, указывающими на его значение.

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  1. Изображение с названием Coin a Word Step 9

    1

    Поймите значение сленга. Сленг создается сообществом людей для собственного обозначения терминов, действий и понятий, которые могут понять только они и не непонятны для посторонних.

    • Сленг в своей основе используется различными сообществами, однако он может выйти и за пределы сообщества и стать достаточно популярным в обществе.
    • Сленг постоянно развивается, слова и фразы могут быстро выйти из обихода. Это часто случается, когда сленг начинает распространяться за пределами сообщества, в котором был создан. Избегайте создания сленга из слов, которые вышли из обихода, это придаст архаичности.
  2. Изображение с названием Coin a Word Step 10

    2

    Сокращайте слово. Сокращение — отбрасывание начала или конца слова. Соедините два сокращенных слова, чтобы создать новое. Для этого можно использовать приставки или суффиксы.

    • Например вместо того, чтобы сказать » все хорошо», можно сократить выражение и сказать «врошо».
  3. Изображение с названием Coin a Word Step 11

    3

    Создавайте глаголы. Создавайте отглагольные существительные, например «зашкафиться». Значение вашего глагола будет зависеть от контекста.

    • Превращение существительного в глагол добавляет изюминку в обычное предложение.
    • Экспериментируйте с существительными. Придумайте отыменный глагол. Не каждое существительное может стать глаголом, однако найдя подходящее, вы создадите сильное и незабываемое предложение.
  4. Изображение с названием Coin a Word Step 12

    4

    Распространите новообразованное слово. Сленг распространяется друзьями. Для того чтобы ваше сленговое слово широко распространилось, надо почаще его употреблять. Используйте свое слово в общении, но не обязательно всем говорить, что оно новое. Пусть ваши друзья попытаются понять новое слово по контексту. Так ваше слово закрепится в обиходе.

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A coined term or neologism is a common topic in terminology and refers to the creation of new terms when there is not an equivalent exact term in the target language. In some cases, the translator opts to describe a term; in other cases, the translator or terminologist talks to the expert or technical writer to come up with a new term. Terms not only are created but they also evolve into new terms. Therefore, in some fields keeping up with the growing number of new terms makes terminology management a must-do for many organizations. In the information technology, for example, “terms have some exceptional features: they tend to be lively and colourful, simple, fresh, playful, user-friendly and sometimes even humorous.” (Source: Insight into the Latest Computer and Internet Terminology, by Evelina Jaleniauskienė, Vilma Čičelytė). So, as you can imagine, the challenge of creating new terms is not an easy task.

In the latter article, the authors refer to Robert Dubuc’s four main methods to coin a term. Semantic change: You assign a new meaning to an existing term. Morphological change: You combine or delete lexical elements from a term to create a new one. Conversion: You change the grammatical class of an existing word. Borrowing: You borrow words from other languages. Begoña Soneira Beloso refers to borrowing as loanword neology and classifies loanwords into two main groups: necessity loanwords (collage or Art Nouveau) and luxury loanwords (patio or schloss). Read an abstract of her work “The Role of Loanwords in the Lexical Description of English for Architecture: a Corpus-based Study” here. Note: Robert Dubuc book is called “Manuel pratique de terminologie” and is not available online.

Klaus-Dirk Schmitz in his presentation “Terminology and Software Localization” lists and illlustrates ISO’s criteria for the selection and creation of terms (transparency, consistency, appropriateness, linguistic economy, derivability, linguistic correctness, and preference for native language). Also, read the ISO standard 704  for an official description of each criteria (link below).

Complementary readings:

1. ISO International Standard 704 Terminology Work – Principles and Methods.

2. Pavel’s term creation section talks about semantic and morphological change rules.

3. Wikipedia on word formation.

4. Bik Terminology has several posts on coining terms, with particular interest of blog on ISO 704.

5. Neologia e Terminologia, by Margarita Correia (in Portuguese only) talks about definition, characteristics, levels, types and mechanisms to create neologisms.

7. Towards a New Approach to the Study of Neology, by Teresa Cabré and Rogelio Nazar (2011) (advanced-level reading).

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1. How to Copyright or Coin a Phrase

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Summary: Integrating quotations is a critical skills for any writer. In this detailed guide we cover the most effective ways for sharing the ideas of others.

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