MODERN PRODUCTIVE WORD FORMATION METHODS IN ENGLISH AND UKRAINIAN

Abstract

This article presents a comparative analysis of productive word-formation methods in English and Ukrainian in terms of their current relevance.

The authors identify the main factors influencing the productivity of word-formation methods as the development of society and technology, cultural and social changes, trends and expressiveness (the desire for emotional nuance in language), the principle of linguistic economy (conversion, abbreviation), and the semantic potential of a derivative (the ability to expand a word-formation family).

The study shows that suffixation and prefixation had the greatest fundamental influence on language formation, and in Ukrainian, this also includes confixes and postfixes (which are unique morphemes of the Ukrainian language). They gave rise to most of the major parts of speech. Later, conversion emerged in the English language as a result of the desire for brevity and conciseness. This method of word formation became highly productive and remains so to this day. Given the desire to conserve linguistic resources, the widespread use of blending and abbreviation is also logical. Most neologisms in modern English are abbreviations or blends. They are used very actively in everyday communication, especially online (in messaging apps) when writing messages or recording videos. In Ukrainian, neologisms are largely borrowed from English, including abbreviations. Abbreviations have also become an integral part of official and business correspondence at various levels, international relations, and so on.

The analysis conducted shows that any language, if it is “living,” is constantly evolving, transforming, and interacting with other languages through its speakers. Therefore, the issue of word formation can never be studied once and for all, definitively.  Language is the primary marker of identity, distinguishing nations and peoples from one another or, conversely, uniting them into specific communities.