Orð og tunga - 01.06.2009, Page 26

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Orð og tunga
Lykilorð
nýyrði, tökuorð, nýyrðastefna, hreintungustefna, breytileiki eftir málsniðum
Keywords
neologism, loanword, policy for neologisms, purism, register variation
Abstract
The work of wordsmiths. Play with Lego blocks. Recycling. On neologisms, policy
for neologisms and related issues.
This article is about the relationship between neologisms and neologism policy
in Icelandic. It is argued that there is not necessarily any direct correlation between
the creation and use of neologisms on the one hand, and policy for neologisms on the
other. However, neologism policy has certainly had an influence on both the coining
and use of neologisms. Neologism policy is defined as one branch of purism. The
concept of purism is discussed in some detail. It is argued that purist attitudes alone
do not offer an adequate explanation for the strong position held by neologisms in
Icelandic. The creation and use of neologisms is also supported by language factors
such as continuity in the lexicon.
The registers used in formal situations and written texts are often characterized
by neologisms, while the registers in informal situations and spoken texts are often
characterized by loanwords, with the same or similar meaning. Even though the cre-
ation and use of neologisms is not necessarily in general any proof of compliance
towards neologism policy, it is evident that this state of synonymity can not be ex-
plained without reference to neologism policy.
Ari Páll Kristinsson
Stofnun Árna Magnússonar í íslenskum fræðutn/Háskóla íslands
Neslwga 16
lS-107 Reykjavík
aripk@hi.is