On the Theory of Neologisms and Nonce-formations

Abstract

This article outlines an onomasiological theory of neologisms and nonce-formations. First, a theoretical background is presented, and then the topic is discussed with regard to P. Hohenhaus' approach to nonce-formations in order to highlight the advantages of the theory proposed. It is distinguished between neologisms and nonce-formations and postulated that the 'oddity' of the latter should be sought for in the interplay between language, on the one hand, and the extra-linguistic reality and the speech community, on the other. It is argued that from the inherent word-formation point of view nonce-formations are regular coinages generated by productive word-formation rules, and as such they are listed in the Lexicon as any other naming units.