Functional specificity of word-formation neologisms in the discursive space of glossy magazines

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to study the functional characteristics of word-forming neologisms in modern English-language glossy magazines. The tasks are reduced to the analysis of scientific and theoretical literature on the problems of neology, the selection of neo-lexemes of the subject area “fashion and style”, formed by morphological methods, by the method of continuous sampling, and their systematization in relation to the functions they perform in the glamorous discourse. The sources are electronic versions of the monthly women’s magazines “Cosmopolitan”, “Elle”, “Fashion” for 2017–2022. When interpreting the factual material, data from the Online Etymology Dictionary and Dictionary.com dictionaries and a comprehensive methodology are used: the general scientific method of observation, word-formation analysis, definitional analysis, descriptive-analytical method. The findings indicate an active linguo-creative word-formation activity in the fashion sector of the economy. We formulate the thesis about the functional syncretism of derivational neologisms in the communicative space of the mass media serving it. We single out and illustrate with examples the nominative, informative, emotionally expressive, evaluative and phatic (contact-establishing) interdependent functions of neonominations. We note a significant predominance of the first two. The data obtained can be used in lecture courses on stylistics, the basics of media communication and the lexicology of modern English.