VERBALIZATION OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC-RELATED CONCEPTS: NEOLOGISM POTENTIAL OF THE GERMAN LANGUAGE

Abstract

Times of crisis seem to stimulate the word formation potential of languages as shown in past research e.g. Trümmerfrau, Kristallnacht, Anschluss, hamstern in World War II. The present study, based on language change during the Covid-19 pandemic, contributes to previous studies in this domain, whereby the behavior of mankind in times of crisis is proven to be universal over the centuries. The neologisms (completely new words, new meanings of already existing words) analysed in this paper, are terms for person/group reference reflecting a specific behaviour brought on during the COVID-19 crisis. Most of these neologisms, primarily consisting of a wider range of compounds, may pass the test of usage and be included permanently into the German lexicon. Other types of neologisms may only be used occasionally. Also, it might be worth mentioning that the inclusion of certain excerpts in the German lexicon has been verified by Duden online. The concept of 'behaviour' is based on the sociological understanding of 'behaviour', which is understood as a reaction of individuals towards internal and external changes. Thus, 'behaviour' should be interpreted in this concrete case as a reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. All excerpts analysed in the present study decipher and interpret outwardly manifested, specific behaviour of individuals or groups exhibited as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is interesting to note that, some of the examples enable the production of double meanings - more precisely, two interpretations of one and the same naming unit, e.g. Wellenbrecher (see below) are possible. We can freely say that the pandemic-related neologisms portray a truly German sociolinguistic 'potpourri'.