From Word-formation to Culture-construction: COVID-19 Neologisms

Abstract

The novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak has led to the eye-catching emergence of new words and metaphors in the world. The important properties of languages are productivity and creativity as language users need new words to describe new concepts and situations. Sometimes, due to cultural and social changes, languages should be compatible with new circumstances in order to guide behaviors and construct cultures. The Persian language can also be changed through the emergence of new words and equivalents in such linguistic and extra-linguistic evolution. The emergence of new words and metaphors may shape various behaviors, thus influencing cultural, social, and political aspects. Language, the powerful cultural and social means, should be taken into consideration as its appropriate use may contribute to further the aims of communities. The present research explored various aspects of the selected words related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The results revealed that such words are mostly compound-derivative ones and the result of borrowing, loan blending, and calque.

Keywords

• coronavirus
• covid-19
• culture-construction
• neologisms
• word-formation