C1 - Lesson 3: New Words & Changing Meanings
Neologisms & Word Evolution
Language is not static; it is a living, breathing entity that changes with our culture and technology. New words are created every day, and old words take on new meanings. A neologism1 is a newly created word or expression. The process of a word's meaning changing over time is called semantic change2. Understanding this evolution is key to staying current with modern English.
Part 1: Neologisms - The Birth of Words
New words are often coined3 to describe new technologies, social trends, or ideas. Here are some common ways they are formed:
- Blending: Joining the beginning of one word and the end of another.
Examples: `brunch` (breakfast + lunch), `smog` (smoke + fog), `cyborg` (cybernetic + organism). - Compounding: Joining two separate words to create a new one.
Examples: `keyboard`, `food truck`, `sunscreen`. - Clipping: Shortening a longer word.
Examples: `app` (application), `ad` (advertisement), `flu` (influenza). - Conversion: Using a word from one part of speech as another, without changing its form.
Examples: `to Google` (from the noun 'Google'), `an invite` (from the verb 'to invite'), `to friend` (from the noun 'friend').
Part 2: Semantic Change - New Meanings for Old Words
Technology, in particular, has given many old words new life with completely new meanings.
| Word | Original Meaning | Modern Tech Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| web | A spider's silk trap. | The system of interconnected pages on the internet. |
| cloud | A mass of water vapor in the sky. | A network of remote servers for data storage. |
| viral | Relating to a biological virus. | Spreading rapidly and widely on the internet. |
| mouse | A small rodent. | A handheld device to control a computer cursor. |
In Conversation: A Modern Dialogue
Rina and Kimsan are talking about a new online trend.
Rina: Did you see that new cooking video? The one with the Khmer chef making that amazing fish amok. It went completely viral this week!
Kimsan: Oh yeah, I saw it on my social media feed. I saved the recipe to the cloud so I can try it later. The chef is a friend of mine, actually.
Rina: No way! You should ask him if he can send me an invite to his next cooking class.
Kimsan: I can do better. Just find his page and send a request. He'll probably friend you back immediately. He's very friendly.
Rina: Awesome, thanks! I'll just Google his name to find the right page.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. Using the verb "to friend" someone on Facebook is an example of which process?
- a) Blending
- b) Conversion
- c) Clipping
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) Conversion (A noun, 'friend', is converted into a verb, 'to friend').
2. The word "smog" is a classic neologism formed by...
- a) ...combining "smoke" and "fog".
- b) ...shortening a longer word.
- c) ...a new meaning for an old word.
Click to see the answer
Answer: a) ...combining "smoke" and "fog" (Blending).
3. In modern business, if you save your work to "the cloud," where are you saving it?
- a) On your computer's desktop.
- b) On a network of remote servers accessed via the internet.
- c) On a physical hard drive in your office.
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) On a network of remote servers accessed via the internet.
edit Your Mission
- Become a Word Historian: The word "tablet" used to mean a flat slab of stone or wood for writing on. What is its modern meaning? Write a sentence using "tablet" with its new technological meaning.
- Observe Your Language: Think about your native language, Khmer. Can you identify one new word or phrase that has become popular recently, perhaps because of social media or technology? What does it mean?
- Coin a Term: Invent a neologism for "the feeling of anxiety you get when your phone battery is below 10%." You could use blending, compounding, or any method you like. Be creative!
book Lesson Glossary
- Neologism (noun) - Khmer: នវកម្មពាក្យ - A newly coined word or expression, or a new meaning for an existing word. ↩
- Semantic Change (noun phrase) - Khmer: ការផ្លាស់ប្តូរអត្ថន័យ - The evolution of word usage; the process of a word's meaning changing over time. ↩
- To Coin (a term) (verb phrase) - Khmer: បង្កើតពាក្យថ្មី - To invent a new word or expression, especially one that is widely adopted. ↩