Every year, about 1,000 new words are added to the Oxford English Dictionary. But have you ever wondered where these words come from and how they become part of our everyday language? With over 170,000 words in the English language, it might seem like we have more than enough. However, as our world evolves with new ideas, inventions, and scientific discoveries, we often need new words to express these changes. Let’s explore some of the fascinating ways new words are created!
One way we get new words is by borrowing them from other languages. English has a long history of doing this, and nearly half of its vocabulary comes from other languages. Sometimes, we borrow words because the things they describe were also borrowed. For example, words like “altar” and “jury” came to England from Rome and France, while trade brought us words like “coffee” from Arabic, “spaghetti” from Italian, and “curry” from Indian languages. Other times, we borrow words because they perfectly capture a complex idea or emotion, like “naïveté,” “machismo,” or “schadenfreude.” Scientists often use classical languages like Greek and Latin to name new concepts, such as “clone,” which comes from the Greek word for twig. Interestingly, English also lends words to other languages, like “software.”
Another way to create new words is by combining existing ones. This can be done by forming compound words, like “airport” or “starfish,” or by blending parts of words together, like “spork,” “brunch,” or “internet.” Unlike borrowed words, these new combinations are often easy to understand the first time you hear them.
Sometimes, new words aren’t new at all. Old words can gain new life by adopting new meanings. For instance, “villain” used to mean a peasant farmer but later evolved to mean a bad person. The word “geek” changed from describing a carnival performer to someone who is a bit awkward but smart. Words can also take on opposite meanings through irony or metaphor, like when “sick” or “wicked” are used to mean something amazing.
So, why do some new words become popular while others fade away? Sometimes, it’s because scientists or companies give an official name to a new discovery or technology. Some countries even have language academies to decide on new words. However, most new words come from ordinary people using them in ways that are both useful and catchy.
Take the word “meme,” for example. It was coined in the 1970s by sociobiologist Richard Dawkins from the Greek word for imitation. He used it to describe how ideas spread through culture like genes through a population. With the rise of the Internet, “meme” became a term for popular jokes and images shared online. The word “meme” itself is a meme, showing how words can spread and become part of our language.
There’s a special term for words that describe themselves: “autological.” Not all new words last forever. Some stick around for thousands of years, some change with the times, and others disappear. Some words help us share information, while others help us interpret it. The way new words are created and how they become part of our language tells us a lot about our world and how we communicate.
Research and create a map showing the origins of borrowed words in English. Choose five words from different languages and illustrate their journey into English. Present your findings on a poster or digital presentation, explaining why these words were borrowed and how they are used today.
Work in pairs to brainstorm and create new compound words. Use existing English words to form at least five new words, and write a short story or dialogue using them. Share your creations with the class and discuss how these new words could be useful in everyday language.
Play a game where you take turns picking a common word and giving it a new, creative meaning. Write down your new definitions and use them in sentences. At the end of the game, vote on the most interesting or funny new meanings and discuss how words can evolve over time.
Investigate the history of the word “meme” and how its meaning has changed over time. Create a timeline or infographic that shows its evolution from a scientific term to a popular internet concept. Include examples of famous memes and discuss their impact on culture and language.
Imagine you are a linguist tasked with creating a new word for a modern invention or concept. Work in groups to develop a word, considering factors like ease of pronunciation and relevance. Present your new word to the class, explaining its meaning and why it should be adopted into the English language.
Every year, about 1,000 new words are added to the Oxford English Dictionary. But where do they come from, and how do they make it into our everyday lives? With over 170,000 words currently in use in the English language, it might seem we already have plenty. Yet, as our world changes, new ideas and inventions emerge, and science progresses, our existing words leave gaps in what we want to express. We fill those gaps in several ingenious, practical, and occasionally peculiar ways.
One way is to absorb a word from another language. English has borrowed so many words over its history that nearly half of its vocabulary comes directly from other languages. Sometimes, this is simply because the thing the word describes was borrowed itself. For example, legal and religious concepts like “altar” and “jury” were brought to Medieval England from Rome and France, while trade introduced crops and cuisine, such as Arabic coffee, Italian spaghetti, and Indian curry. Other times, another language has just the right word for a complex idea or emotion, like “naïveté,” “machismo,” or “schadenfreude.” Scientists also use classical languages to name new concepts; for instance, “clone” was derived from the Ancient Greek word for twig to describe creating a new plant from a piece of the old. Today, the process works both ways, with English lending words like “software” to languages around the world.
Another popular way to fill a vocabulary gap is by combining existing words that each convey part of the new concept. This can be done by creating compound words, like “airport” or “starfish,” or by blending parts of words together, like “spork,” “brunch,” or “internet.” Unlike borrowed words, these can often be understood the first time you hear them.
Sometimes, a new word isn’t new at all. Obsolete words can gain new life by adopting new meanings. For example, “villain” originally meant a peasant farmer but evolved to mean someone not bound by the knightly code of chivalry, and thus, a bad person. “Geek” transitioned from being a carnival performer to any strange person, and eventually to a specific type of awkward genius. Other times, words can take on opposite meanings through irony, metaphor, or misuse, such as when “sick” or “wicked” are used to describe something amazing.
But if words can be formed in all these ways, why do some become mainstream while others fall out of use or never catch on? Sometimes, the answer is simple, as when scientists or companies give an official name to a new discovery or technology. Some countries have language academies to make these decisions. However, for the most part, official sources like dictionaries only document current usage. New words don’t originate from above but from ordinary people spreading words that hit the right combination of usefulness and catchiness.
Take the word “meme,” coined in the 1970s by sociobiologist Richard Dawkins from the Ancient Greek for imitation. He used it to describe how ideas and symbols propagate through a culture like genes through a population. With the advent of the Internet, this process became directly observable in how jokes and images were popularized at lightning speed. Soon, the word came to refer to a certain kind of image. Thus, “meme” not only describes how words become part of language, but the word itself is a meme.
There’s a term for this phenomenon of words that describe themselves: “autological.” Not all new words are created equal. Some stick around for millennia, some adapt to changing times, and others die off. Some relay information, while others interpret it. The way these words are created and the journey they take to become part of our speech tells us a lot about our world and how we communicate within it.
Words – Words are the basic units of language that convey meaning and can be spoken or written. – Example sentence: In English class, we learn how to use words effectively to express our ideas.
Language – Language is a system of communication used by a particular community or country. – Example sentence: English is a language spoken by millions of people around the world.
Borrow – To borrow in linguistics means to take words from one language and use them in another. – Example sentence: The English language has borrowed many words from French, like “ballet” and “café.”
Combine – To combine means to bring two or more elements together to form a new whole. – Example sentence: In writing, we often combine short sentences to create more complex ones.
Meaning – Meaning is the idea or concept that a word or phrase represents. – Example sentence: The meaning of the word “run” can change depending on the context in which it is used.
Popular – Popular means widely liked or appreciated by many people. – Example sentence: English has become a popular language to learn because it is used internationally.
Culture – Culture refers to the beliefs, customs, and arts of a particular society or group. – Example sentence: Language and culture are closely connected, as language often reflects cultural values.
Internet – The internet is a global network that connects millions of computers, allowing people to communicate and access information. – Example sentence: The internet has made it easier to learn new languages by providing access to online resources.
Dictionary – A dictionary is a reference book or online resource that lists words and their meanings. – Example sentence: When I don’t know the meaning of a word, I look it up in the dictionary.
Vocabulary – Vocabulary is the set of words known and used by a person or group. – Example sentence: Expanding your vocabulary can help you become a better writer and communicator.
