Lexicogenesis and language vitality

Abstract

A comparison of languages in the initial or intermediate phases of domination or competition by another language & culture with languages in advanced stages of domination. Spontaneous lexical creativity is found to be a defensive response for languages in the early & intermediate stages, as evidenced by Contemporary Metropolitan French. This defensive response may also include convergent lexicogenesis, whereby extensive use of borrowings from the dominant language is indigenously processed. Languages in the advanced stages, however, tend to rely heavily on lexical code-switching to assist continual use of the language. 31 References. J. MacFarlane