Generational neologisms of English as a factor of linguistic polarization of generations

Abstract

The aim of the study is to identify the functional features of generational neologisms in English as factors of cognitive and social polarization both between and within generations. The article examines the phenomenon of lexemes marked by cohort affiliation and traces their role in shaping symbolic boundaries and intergenerational opposition in English-language discourse. The semantic and pragmatic characteristics of such units are revealed, and their dichotomizing function in communication is substantiated. The scientific novelty of the research lies in identifying and describing cognitive and discursive mechanisms of generational lexical polarization, manifested in the functioning of neologisms with a pronounced cohort affiliation. The novelty also consists in developing and applying the author’s dynamic conceptual modeling scheme, which makes it possible to reconstruct the transformational trajectory of conflictogenic lexemes from primary affiliation to ambivalent functioning and stable contradiction of cognitive attitudes. In addition, the pragmatic status of such neologisms as instruments of cohort self-identification, symbolic differentiation, and reinterpretation of sociocultural norms is clarified, which expands our understanding of the polarization potential of lexical innovations in English-language discourse. As a result, key cognitive features of conflictogenic generational neologisms, their semantic and pragmatic transformations, as well as the discursive scenarios in which they are actualized, have been identified.

Research materials

1. Cambridge Dictionary. https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/
2. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/
3. Sketch Engine. https://www.sketchengine.eu
4. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/ru-RU/
5. Urban Dictionary. https://www.urbandictionary.com/
6. WordSpy. https://wordspy.com/

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Author information

About this article

Publication history

• Received: June 22, 2025.
• Published: July 25, 2025.

Keywords

• английский язык
• генерационные неологизмы
• межпоколенческая коммуникация
• языковая поляризация
• конфликтогенный потенциал
• English language
• generational neologisms
• intergenerational communication
• linguistic polarization
• conflictogenic potential

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© 2025 The Author(s)
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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)