Derivational Patterns of Ukrainian Wartime Neologisms as Represented in English-language Media
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This article explores the derivational and structural characteristics of Ukrainian neologisms that emerged in response to the Russian-Ukrainian war and were subsequently translated into English.The research focuses on identifying dominant word-formation patterns used in the creation of wartime lexical innovations from 2022 to 2025.The study analyzes a corpus of 50 neologisms selected from English-language publications in leading international media (The Washington Post, The New York Times, Reuters, etc.) and Ukrainian online dictionaries of new vocabulary.A descriptive-analytical methodology was employed.The findings reveal that morphological mechanisms, particularly affixation, compounding, and blending, account for approximately 70% of the analyzed neologisms, making them the most productive means of lexical expansion.Semantic derivation, encompassing metaphorical reinterpretations, euphemistic reappropriations, and ironic shifts, constitutes around 20% of the cases.Syntactic-type neologisms, such as multi-word expressions, make up the remaining 10% and serve as powerful tools for identity assertion and resistance.The study demonstrates that neologisms function as strategic communicative instruments during wartime, enabling speakers to construct narratives, dehumanize the enemy, express trauma, and reinforce national identity.These lexical innovations reflect not only linguistic creativity but also emotional resilience and ideological stance.The results contribute to a deeper understanding of wartime language dynamics and offer a foundation for future linguistic, sociopolitical, and translation studies focused on crisis communication and cultural resistance.
Language: English
Subfield: Language and Linguistics
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4412570727