SOCIAL FUNCTION OF LANGUAGE THROUGH THE PRISM OF “WORDS OF THE YEAR”

Abstract

In a synchronic aspect, the keywords of 2020, which are reflected in the linguistic consciousness of society as representing the most important events and realities, are investigated using the material of European languages. The analysis involves the results of the “Words of the Year” project, implemented by leading institutions and dictionary publications. Semantic richness, metaphorical potential, expressive capacity, as well as the expansion of the conceptual content of notions represented by “new” words in comparison with their use up to the present moment (based on the materials of national corpora) are pointed out. An explosion in popularity is indicated for words describing the consequences of the spread of coronavirus infection and the sanitary measures taken by countries to combat the pandemic. The appearance in 2020 of many neologisms is emphasized, illustrating the attitude of society to the imposed bans and the fear of contracting the virus. The work reveals national and cultural peculiarities in the choice of preferences, due to regional approaches to the epidemiological situation, as well as the lexical and grammatical structure of the language. Examples are given and analyzed that demonstrate the creative approach of native speakers to the methods of verbalizing topical issues of the “COVID” topic.