CULTURAL CODES IN FRENCH NEOLOGISMS: BETWEEN TRADITION AND MODERNITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/2663-6530.2025.48.14Keywords:
French neologisms, cultural codes, language tradition, language modernization, word formation, semantic shifts, borrowing, language identity, cultural adaptation of neologisms, cultural trends, technological progress, globalization, language policyAbstract
The article explores the role of neologisms in the French language as a tool for adapting to social transformations, technological progress, and globalization. Neologisms – new words, word combinations, or meanings – reflect cultural trends, enrich communication, and make language alive and open to innovation. They arise to denote new concepts, technologies, and social phenomena, and, initially perceived as unusual, may eventually enter active use or disappear.
The article presents a classification of neologisms by origin, scope, method of creation, and duration of existence. Particular attention is paid to the influence of technological progress, social change, ecology, cultural globalization, and language policy on the formation of neologisms.
Analyzing examples – from coronapéro and distanciel to écriture inclusive and zéro déchet – the article demonstrates how the French language combines tradition and innovation, remaining relevant thanks to the flexibility and creative participation of native speakers. Neologisms act as markers of the era, reflecting the spirit of the times and the challenges facing society.
References
Académie française. (2023). Rapport sur la langue française. Retrieved from https://www.academie-francaise.fr/
Boulanger, J.-C. (2004). Les néologismes. Presses Universitaires de France.
Boyer, H. (2003). Les mots nouveaux. Presses Universitaires de France.
CNRTL. (n.d.). Centre National de Ressources Textuelles et Lexicales. Retrieved from http://www.cnrtl.fr/
Corbin, D. (1991). Morphologie dérivationnelle et structuration du lexique. Niemeyer.
Gadet, F. (2007). La variation sociale en français. Ophrys.
Krieg-Planque, A. (2010). Purisme et néologie en français contemporain. De Boeck Supérieur.
Lefeuvre, F. (2022). Les mots de la crise : Néologismes et pandémie. L’Harmattan.
Moirand, S. (2007). Les discours de la presse quotidienne : Observatoire des mots de l’actualité. Langue Française, 155(3), 87–102.
Pascale, H. (2025). Roche Néologismes et société. Bien-dire,161, 11.
Paveau, M.-A. (2017). Langage et morale : Une éthique des discours. Limoges : Lambert-Lucas.
Paveau, M.-A. (2021). Le discours numérique : Une approche linguistique. Éditions Lambert-Lucas.
Queffélec, A. (2006). Le français dans tous les sens : Dictionnaire des mots et expressions ambigus. Seuil.
Sabatier, C. (2000). La néologie en français contemporain : Étude lexicologique et morphologique. Champion.
TLFi. (n.d.). Trésor de la langue française informatisé. Retrieved from http://atilf.atilf.fr/
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Наталя Миронова
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
