What is a neologism?

A neologism is a relatively recent or isolated term, word, or phrase that may be in the process of entering common use, but that has not yet been fully accepted into mainstream language. Neologisms are often created by combining existing words or phrases in new ways. They can also be completely new words coined to name new inventions, discoveries, or concepts that didn’t previously have a word to describe them. Here’s a more in-depth look at what neologisms are, where they come from, and how they become part of everyday language.

Definitions of Neologism

The word “neologism” itself is a neologism! It was coined in the early 19th century from the Greek roots “neo-” meaning new and “-logia” meaning speech or discourse. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a neologism as:

“A new word, usage, or expression.”

The Oxford English Dictionary has a more detailed definition:

“A newly coined word or expression, or an existing word employed in a new sense.”

So in summary, a neologism is any type of new or newly popular word, phrase, or meaning that has not yet gained widespread acceptance in the language.

Types of Neologisms

There are several different ways new words and phrases can develop into neologisms:

• Newly coined words – Completely new words invented to describe new concepts, objects, technologies or experiences. For example, the words “internet”, “wi-fi” and “blog” were all coined as names for new innovations.
• Derivative words – New words created by adding prefixes or suffixes to existing words, like “hyperlink” or “megastore”.
• Clipped words – Shortened versions of existing words, such as “photo” from “photograph”.
• Acronyms – Words formed from the initials of a phrase, like “laser” which stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation”.
• Blends – Words formed by combining clipped words, like “brunch” from “breakfast” and “lunch”.
• Loan words – Words borrowed from another language and culture, such as “fjord” from Norwegian.
• Eponyms – Words derived from or referencing a real person’s name, such as “Shakespearean” or “Freudian”.
• Word combinations – Novel combinations of existing words, such as “cyberspace” or “infomania”.
• Semantic shifts – Existing words taking on new semantic meanings, like when “mouse” became a computer pointing device.

So in summary, neologisms can develop through language shortening techniques like clipping and acronyms, by combining words in new ways, or by existing words taking on new meanings.

Sources of Neologisms

Where exactly do new words and phrases come from in the first place? There are a few key sources that tend to produce neologisms:

• Technology – New inventions and discoveries require new words to describe them. For example, the rapid advances of the digital age have produced neologisms like “the cloud,” “big data,” and “cybersecurity.”
• Science – New scientific concepts lead to new terminology, like “dark matter” from astronomy or “osteopathy” from medicine.
• Business – The business world introduces new products, services, and practices that require names, such as “crowdsourcing” or “upselling.”
• Politics and culture – Social, political, and cultural change can bring new words and phrases into the vernacular, like “woke,” “mansplaining,” or “staycation.”
• Media and entertainment – The creative realms of media, marketing, and pop culture coin new slang and catchphrases that enters mainstream usage, like “photobomb,” “binge-watch,” or “subtweet.”
• Youth culture – Teenagers and young people are often sources of new slang, especially as each generation differentiates itself from the previous one.
• Translation – Borrowing words directly from other languages can introduce neologisms, as with “schadenfreude” from German.
• Brand naming – Product and company names invented by marketers can turn into everyday words, like “Xerox,” “Kleenex,” or “Google” as a verb meaning to search online.

In many cases, new terminology emerges spontaneously from these areas of culture and technology to fill a need, while in other cases terms are deliberately created by specific individuals or groups.

Creating New Words

While some neologisms seem to organically bubble up in the language, other new words are intentionally crafted by specific people. Here are some tips and techniques people use to consciously create new words:

• Use descriptive prefixes and suffixes like “ultra-“, “-esque”, or “-ify” to modify existing words.
• Shorten or combine multiple words like “smog” from “smoke” and “fog.”
• Make up completely new words that sound fitting based on patterns in the language, like “flummoxed.”
• Use metaphors and imagery to symbolically represent complex concepts, like “cyberspace.”
• Play with rhymes, alliteration, puns, and other creative language techniques.
• Look at other languages for inspiration when translating foreign concepts.
• Leverage root words from Latin, Greek, German, etc to build new combinations.
• Make sure new terms are concise, pronounceable, and easy to grasp.

Words that follow the general rules and patterns of a language tend to get adopted more easily than terms that are difficult to pronounce, overly long or complex, or discordant with the tone of the language. Skillfully crafted neologisms feel like they fit naturally within the flow of a language.

Neologisms Entering the Language

For every new word that sticks and becomes commonly used, many more proposed neologisms never gain traction. So what determines whether a new word gets adopted into the language or not? There are a few key factors:

• Need – Does the neologism fill a gap in the language by naming a new idea, object or concept?
• Exposure – How widely published and disseminated is the new word?
• adoption – Do influential groups like academics, businesses, journalists, etc start using the term?
• Public understanding – Is the meaning of the neologism quickly grasped and understood?
• Language trends – Does the word fit with current linguistic styles andPatterns?
• Wordplay potential – Does the new word lend itself to puns, rhymes, humor, etc?

Neologisms spread throughout the English speaking world when they appear repeatedly in the media, are used by influential public figures, get adopted within specific niche communities, and start to feel familiar from everyday exposure. If people find a new word useful, catchy, and fitting with the current language, it has a much greater chance of sticking around.

Types of Neologisms in the Bible

When reading an English Bible translation, it’s important to realize that many key biblical terms were originally neologisms in ancient Hebrew or Greek – new words coined to describe spiritual concepts and religious practices that had no prior words associated with them. Here are some examples of neologisms in the original biblical languages:

• “Christ” – From the Greek word christos meaning “anointed one.”
• “Baptize” – From baptízō meaning “immerse, dip, wash.”
• “Apocalypse” – From apokálypsis meaning “revelation, disclose.”
• “Eucharist” – From eucharistia meaning “thanksgiving.”
• “Hosanna” – From hôshia-na meaning “save now.”
• “Hallelujah” – From hallĕlūyāh meaning “praise Yah(weh).”
• “Amen” – From ʾāmēn meaning “so be it.”

These key biblical terms were new words and phrases coined to capture and communicate emerging religious concepts. They became established as names for those concepts through usage in faith communities. Even in English translations today, they function as neologisms by carrying meanings not found in ordinary English words.

Neologisms in Bible Translations

Modern Bible translations also face choices about when to use neologisms to translate biblical terms and concepts that don’t have exact parallels in contemporary English. Translators must decide case-by-case when to use existing English words in new ways versus inventing completely new terms to convey the original meaning. Here are a few examples of neologisms coined in English Bible versions:

• “Sheol” – Translates the Hebrew term for the shadowy underworld of the dead.
• “Sabbath” – Renders the Hebrew day of holy rest literally as “sabbath.”
• “Jubilee” – Converts the Hebrew yovel meaning ram’s horn into “jubilee.”
• “Cherubim” – Plural of cherub, a type of angelic being.
• “Leviathan” – Translates the name of the sea monster in Psalms.

Skilled Bible translators try to walk the line between conveying the meanings of ancient terms and phrases while shaping expression that makes sense to modern readers. This sometimes requires coining or popularizing new words and meanings in English.

Neologisms Relevant to Christianity

In addition to biblical words, English also contains many neologisms relevant to Christian theology, practice, and experience. Some examples include:

• “Trinity” – Coined to describe the triune Christian Godhead.
• “Rapture” – Concept of end times immediate ascension to heaven.
• “Witness” – Used as a verb to mean sharing faith with others.
• “Revival” – Renewal of spiritual fervor within a community.
• “Evangelism” – Spreading the Christian gospel.
• “Crusade” – Christian campaign for spiritual renewal and/or defense.
• “Stewardship” – Responsibility to manage God’s gifts well.

These examples illustrate how establishing new words related to faith helps codify theological concepts and gives names to aspects of Christian practice and experience. Religious neologisms shape how believers conceptualize and communicate their spirituality.

Neologisms Within Christian Communities

Within specific Christian communities, new words and phrases often develop to promote identity and shared understanding. These in-group neologisms act as unique vocabulary that builds intimacy. Examples include:

• “Convicted” – Feeling rebuked or inspired by God’s prompting.
• “Rededicate” – Committing life back to Christ after straying.
• “Blessed” – Highly favored by God.
• “Washed in the blood” – Saved by Christ’s sacrifice.
• “Hedgepriest” – Derogatory for an ill-trained pastor.
• “Pew jumper” – Derogatory for church-switching members.

Both positively and negatively oriented terms like these circulate within church groups to establish shared perspective. They function as neologisms even though they build on existing English words.

Evaluating Religious Neologisms

For believers, navigating new theological words requires discernment. Christians striving to “test all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) might consider asking these questions when encountering unfamiliar or novel religious terminology:

• Does this word illuminate or obscure biblical truth?
• Is the term’s definition clear or ambiguous?
• Does it promote fruitful discussion or divisiveness?
• Does it capture authentic experience or false ideas?
• Does it lead people to earnestly seek God?

Evaluating spiritual neologisms based on these criteria can help determine if they constructively contribute to Christian vocabulary or potentially distort it. Examining the fruits of a new religious term – whether confusion, enlightenment, division, or inspiration – reveals its ultimate spiritual value.

Neologisms in Non-Religious Contexts

Beyond specifically faith-related usage, neologisms also continuously develop within every sphere of life. New words and phrases permeate fields such as:

• Technology – “Vlog,” “inky,” “smartwatch”
• Culture – “Staycation,” “ghosting,” “adorbs”
• Business – “Crowdfunding,” “upsell,” “solopreneur”
• Politics – “Birtherism,” “woke,” “muscular liberalism”
• Environment – “Rewilding,” “carbontax,” “ecoterrorism”

These examples reflect how neologisms emerge from young people, pop culture, marketing, social trends and more. Christians encounter scores of novel terms like these in everyday speech and reading.

Assessing Secular Neologisms

For believers navigating the frequent appearance of non-religious neologisms in society, here are some questions to prayerfully consider in evaluating them:

• Does this term dehumanize people or display empathy?
• Does it convey truth or distort facts?
• Does it promote justice and morality or injustice and immorality?
• Does it breed cynicism and division or hope and community?
• Does it make life kinder or crueller overall?

Assessing both the literal definitions and connotations of secular neologisms through a biblical lens helps determine if they reflect Christian values like compassion, integrity, and human dignity – or work against them.

Using Discernment

With both religious and secular neologisms continuously entering English, believers need to approach new words and phrases with discernment. Considering what new terminology reveals versus obscures spiritually, ethically, and intellectually allows Christians to cultivate vocabulary that aligns with Biblical truth rather than distorts it. Just as God’s Word challenges mankind to “test everything” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), carefully examining language and meaning sharpens spiritual insight in an ever-changing world.