IDS-Neo²⁰²⁰⁺: A Novel Resource for New German Words in Use

Abstract

Researching and recording new lexical items and senses holds a well-established position within German linguistics. The first corpus-based online dictionary (the Neologism Dictionary 2006ff.) was introduced in 2006 and focused on collecting and describing neologisms which had emerged and become established over the three decades from 1900 to 2020. In 2022, a new concept was developed to elevate lexicographic aspirations by integrating linguistic as well as encyclopaedic knowledge, and by introducing innovative presentational approaches. In this paper, the key changes and concepts of the new resource (published in platform OWID) will be highlighted, in particular its main aim, which is to merge an online dictionary with a dynamic informative dashboard. This combination offers headword-specific details for general reference and comprehensive information related to neologisms that transcends individual units, presented in various formats. Particular emphasis will be placed on the significant connection between neology and (critical) discourse, a facet that has previously played a minor role in lexicographic practices.

1. Introduction

Historical and recent socio-political events, changing cultural attitudes, societal relationships, technical innovations, new trends in fashion, sports, nutrition, etc. are all topics that use a variety of words and fixed phrases that enable language participants to communicate about new issues and changing realities. In everyday language use, different questions arise. For example, someone might want to know if it is appropriate to use a word, or what the story behind a phrase is. Or they might hear or read a word they are not familiar with, or about which they are uncertain in terms of correct use while writing or speaking. In such cases, it is best to consult a dictionary that documents neologisms.

With regard to German, the Leibniz-Institute for the German language looks back to a long-standing tradition of researching new words and describing them in specific online dictionaries. New expressions, phrases, lexical elements, such as affixes, and new meanings that have emerged in public discourse over the past few decades have been continuously published in the online dictionary of neologisms (cf. Neologismenwörterbuch 2006ff.). The online dictionary is free of charge and part of the lexicographic portal OWID. It also has concomitant print dictionaries (cf. Herberg, Kinne & Steffens 2004 and Steffens & al-Wadi 2013). As a result, the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s are well-documented decades with numerous entries capturing linguistic developments providing us with an insight into lexical diversity, patterns, tendencies of language borrowings, and typical areas with new lexical intake. Taking a closer look at this traditional reference work, there are entries of various formats and extensive search options. The original linguistic and lexicographic conception of this dictionary goes back to considerations that were relevant and hypertext possibilities that were available more than 30 years ago. Since then, not only have methods of corpus analysis changed, but also conventions in Internet presentation and visualisation. Today, we face a wealth of searchable source material and language data, including numerous text genres and linguistic varieties, particularly spoken data, and, due to the focus on user studies in meta-lexicography over the past 15 years, we also have a better understanding of users’ needs and how they use dictionaries (cf. Müller-Spitzer 2014, Lew 2015). Likewise, general (meta-)lexicographic developments have opened up new possibilities for the acquisition, study, and documentation of new words in use. As a consequence, in 2022, the project “Lexicography of Linguistic Change: Foreign Words, Loan Words, Neologisms” was launched, which is dedicated to a new lexicographic formulation for simple and complex new lexemes as well as new meanings that have emerged in general German language use since 2020.

Our aim was to continue with established traditions while at the same time incorporating into the new resource new approaches to corpus investigations, the language used to describe words, and ways of presenting information. The aim of the new reference guide for German neologisms is to further essential ideas relating to language change and the interplay between language, society, and discourse and also to sensitise users to this complexity because public interest in neologisms is as great as ever in the German-speaking community. As a result, the newly developed resource “IDS-Neo²⁰²⁰⁺: New Words in Use” needed to go beyond a traditional online dictionary.

2. IDS-Neo²⁰²⁰⁺ Combining dictionary use and browsing for facts

The IDS-Neo²⁰²⁰⁺ represents a fusion of two integrated components. First, it includes a comprehensive reference tool known as the Neo-Dictionary, featuring complex headword entries. These are continuously being compiled and published. Furthermore, there is a grid-like graphical user interface in the form of the Neo-Dashboard, which boasts an array of components designed for visualising and retrieving a wide range of dictionary and project data. It offers unique insights into neologisms not typically found in reference materials, as well as information about the project, which researches and documents neologisms in general. Through this comprehensive resource, a diverse array of queries can be addressed. It accomplishes this by incorporating narrative explanations and presenting data in the form of charts and graphs to illustrate recent developments. As a repository of freely accessible information, including details on specific (critical) discourses and their emerging terms (such as words related to Covid, the climate crisis or the war in Ukraine), it also offers ongoing research regarding neologisms (e.g. studies on lexical rivalry and favoured neologisms), the methodologies employed by lexicographers in discovering new words, and innovative techniques for exploring corpus data (e.g. vector-based detection).

In essence, the aim of the new resource is to explain new terms, uncover unknown facts, and ignite users’ curiosity. It achieves this by providing a variety of lookup and search functionalities, dynamically generating presentation options as needed, and presenting a fascinating wealth of data pertaining to neologisms from various perspectives. Currently, the project is in the process of continually creating new dictionary entries for the Neo-Dictionary (see figures 2-4). The entire resource, encompassing the Neo-Dashboard (see figure 5), is currently undergoing technical implementation. Subsequent sections will provide a more detailed explanation of the distinctive features of each component.

2.1. The Neo-Dictionary: lexical content and corpus data

Users show great interest in novel expressions, elements of word formation, multiword lexemes, phraseological units, and new senses, as evidenced by the diverse discussions on online language forums (see figure 1). The defining characteristic of neologisms is their novelty, which means they have the capacity to be unfamiliar and have not yet gained a foothold in a speaker’s mental lexicon. The process of their integration into the German language may still be in progress, implying that variation in terms of gender assignment, inflectional patterns, connotations, and even reference remain conceivable. Among the common queries in this context, questions regarding the origin of a newly coined word are prevalent. Moreover, there are frequent grammatical uncertainties when it comes to creating plurals or determining the gender of loan nouns. However, questions also extend to choosing correctly between two equivalent new senses or the accurate contextual uses and reference of newly emerged terms. In the context of neologisms, users also commonly inquire about the meaning and expansion of an abbreviation or its full form, and they seek guidance on the most effective translation for Anglo-neologisms (see Figure 1).

These observations prompted the creation of a user-friendly reference tool designed to cater to a diverse array of reference requirements.

Unlike other types of reference works, a neologism dictionary should place specific emphasis on connecting linguistic details with encyclopaedic information. This is essential because users often lack familiarity with the new word itself, its linguistic attributes, the underlying concept, or sometimes all of the above. For expressions representing abstract concepts, queries about new words frequently reflect a concurrent interest in the concepts they represent. Using the example from Figure 1, “what exactly is NFT for dummies?” illustrates that simply deciphering the abbreviation (English Non-Fungible Token) is insufficient to address the question. To comprehend and use the expression, one needs information indicating that NFTs pertain to a specific type of cryptographic asset often associated with crypto art or digital art. It’s important to note that an NFT represents a distinct computer file, like an image, video, text, or sound file. Furthermore, it can only be acquired using digital currency, typically Ether. Another important point is that the file includes a built-in certificate of authenticity, made possible by blockchain encryption. This certificate serves to validate aspects such as artwork ownership, ensuring its resistance to forgery, and preserving the unchangeable nature of the work. This example demonstrates the significance of integrating both linguistic and non-linguistic knowledge when acquiring new concepts and the corresponding new vocabulary within lexicographic entries.

Up until now, in the older German Online Neologism Guide (Neologismuswörterbuch 2006ff.), such specific details have frequently been relegated to the “Additional Information” section, typically in the shape of links directing users to Wikipedia entries. Going forward, this information will be intricately intertwined with lexical and semantic data to underscore the interrelationship between the word, its meaning, the underlying concept, and associated knowledge. This approach adopts the tenets of cognitive lexicography, as outlined in Ostermann’s (2015) work. To facilitate this, every keyword has the option of a more extensive paraphrase presented in a narrative style, supplemented by more comprehensive sections dedicated to various specialised details. These encompass background knowledge, historical settings, relevant subject areas, associated terms, notable topics in various linguistic variations, the timeline of pertinent events linked to the specified concept, and, when applicable, positions and arguments regarding key terms of public discourse. Numerous citation examples that record new lexemes shortly after their entry into the language often include more extensive elucidations of the corresponding headword, which serve a meaning-defining purpose. Consequently, the corpus examples, intended to illustrate various linguistic phenomena and different aspects of knowledge, are occasionally more extensive in the new Neo-Dictionary compared to other online dictionaries.

A heightened emphasis is now placed on information about new terms that serve as key words, they can indicate highly debated focal points in public conversations. Expressions such as Cancel Culture, Wokeness, Segnungsverbot ‘the ban on ritual blessings for homosexuals’, Tradwife, Shrinkflation, Selbstbestimmungsgesetz ‘gender self-determination law’, Greenflation, Klimaterrorist ‘climate terrorist’, Schattenmiete ‘shadow rent’, and others exemplify the societal dialogues encompassing conflicting viewpoints and diverse ideological, cultural, or political stances. The entry includes descriptions of developments relevant to these discussions by presenting contrasting positions and arguments. These are exemplified with instances that reflect the linguistic assessment or the varying perspectives (see Table 1).

Aspects such as speaker reference, temporal context, topic relevance, and argumentation and viewpoints encapsulated by prominent vocabulary are documented in a systematic way. This approach effectively incorporates specific components of discourse lexicography. Kämper (2006: 337) defines the object of a discourse dictionary as follows:

Ihr Gegenstand ist die lexikographische Darstellung des thematisch strukturierten Beziehungssystems, des Netzes topikalisch aufeinander bezogener lexikalischer Diskursrepräsentanten, die in unterschiedlich beschaffenen begrifflich-semantischen Bezugsrelationen zueinander stehen. (Kämper 2006: 337)¹

The new neologism resource thus partially captures ‘die Gebundenheit des Wortschatzes in topikalischen, sprecherbezogenen, textlichen, zeitlichen und funktionalen Hinsichten (the relevance of vocabulary in topical, speaker-related, textual, temporal, and functional respects)’ (Kämper 2006: 350). Complementing this, the Neo-Dashboard will have the capacity to amalgamate these individual language-specific insights into summarised depictions, offering a brief overview of the discourse associated with a neological keyword, such as the 2021 Bundestag election campaign, the 2020 U.S. election, the climate crisis, the energy crisis, and the war in Ukraine (see Figure 6).

The analysis of language data must evolve by encompassing a wide range of genres, media, and linguistic variations. Up until now, evidence has predominantly been scrutinised and acquired based on DeReKo, a German reference corpus chiefly comprised of newspaper content. It is also the corpus that is used to detect new headwords automatically, which are then edited manually for inclusion in the neologism dictionary (Klosa & Lüngen 2018). Moving forward, various text categories such as online sources and social media data will now play a complementary supportive role in the editorial process, which will also reveal previously undiscovered insights. This potentially facilitates the identification of additional new words (e.g. likegeil ‘desperate for likes’) with new thematic emphases or domains such as social media channels or idiosyncratic usage in diverse linguistic varieties such as netspeak.²

Today, we are also able to capture and describe new words in a timelier manner. Given that the demand for information is highest when an expression is still freshly coined or borrowed, in future, the focus will be less on whether an expression eventually becomes firmly established over time and is subsequently included in the dictionary (in a retrospective documentary manner). Rather, the emphasis will shift towards assessing whether a new word holds heightened communicative or discursive significance during a specific period (even if that period may be relatively brief) and experiences a certain level of diffusion across various media, linguistic variations, and text categories (with a descriptive approach as close to the current time as feasible). This necessitates a revision of the established definition of neologisms, as elements such as discursive significance, media dissemination, and the diversity of text types have been somewhat overlooked in the past due to limited access. In earlier lexicographic endeavours of the IDS, neologisms were characterised as follows:

Nach einer weithin akzeptierten Definition ist ein Neologismus eine lexikalische Einheit bzw. eine Bedeutung, die in einem bestimmten Abschnitt der Sprachentwicklung in einer Kommunikationsgemeinschaft aufkommt, sich ausbreitet, als sprachliche Norm allgemein akzeptiert und in diesem Entwicklungsabschnitt von der Mehrheit der Sprachbenutzer über eine gewisse Zeit hin als neu empfunden wird. (Herberg, Kinne & Steffens 2004: XII)³

Assessing whether an expression has attained the status of a widely accepted linguistic standard and has firmly entrenched itself in the lexicon remains a multifaceted challenge that cannot be definitively gauged solely through observations within newspaper corpora (cf. Klosa-Kückelhaus & Wolfer 2019, Wolfer & Klosa-Kückelhaus 2023). Lemnitzer (2010: 67) proposes to dispense with this criterion and argues that the lexicalisation of the respective linguistic element is not necessarily an inherently constitutive feature of a neologism. In the upcoming project, the definition of a neologism will be supplemented by incorporating the criterion of tangible evidence of its discursive utilisation across various linguistic varieties, as lexicographic investigations find neologisms intriguing not solely due to their frequency and prominence in newspaper language, but also because of their significance within discourse and their manifestation across a multitude of text categories, styles, and various media platforms. Displaying a relevant discourse function can therefore also be a key element of the new definition of neologisms, describing new words/senses beyond traditional criteria such as the point of coinage/formation/borrowing, frequency, distribution, acceptance and perception as new by the majority of the speaker’s community (Herberg and Kinne 1998: 1). Specific critical discourses in particular can produce new lexemes which can be bound to the discourse or become widely recognised as part of the general lexicon. Discursive relevance is a driving force for the integration of new terms into the reality of daily communication and has been largely neglected so far (cf. criteria for neologisms by Polenz 2000).

A neologism may have discursive and communicative significance at a specific moment or within a defined timeframe or within a specific media type (e.g. social media platforms), even if it does not establish itself in the fixed repertoire of vocabulary in the long run (Schippan 2002: 246ff.). Following a Critical Discourse approach, language and meaning can be understood as a collaborative social practice. For example, during the pandemic, German experienced a surge in interest in the novel vocabulary linked to Covid-related terminology. Many of these new lexical items and units exhibited immediate social relevance in public discussions and conveyed significant linguistic facets within the discourse. At the same time, it has become evident that not all of these expressions will become a permanent part of the general lexical inventory (e.g. AHA+C+L-Regel ‘specific distancing and airing regulations’, B.1.1.7-Mutation ‘B.1.1.7-mutation’, EU-Coronawarnplattform ‘EU-Covid warning/index platform’). A collection of 2,500 new Covid-related terms in German is part of the Neologismenwörterbuch (2006ff.), see https://www.owid.de/docs/neo/listen/corona.jsp#.

A wide array of text genres, such as blogs, online documentaries, and reports, as well as various media formats, including spoken and written language, open up new ways for us to explore linguistic domains that have received limited or no consideration in the past. Social media texts, such as Twitter data (now X data), now also play a vital role in the detection of suitable candidates for the dictionary. Initial investigations reveal that terms that are increasingly prevalent in informal communication, often characterised as Internet slang, though infrequently seen in press releases, are more likely to be identified by incorporating this data. This allows for their earlier monitoring (e.g. missgendern ‘to misgender’, appreciaten ‘to appreciate’, Simp ‘simp’, gedoxxt ‘doxed’). We also endeavour to document the process of integration by gathering data regarding uncertainties in norms related to pronunciation, inflection, gender, and spelling. With respect to evidence of creativity and productivity, which can also provide evidence of the establishment of a neologism (see Renouf 2013), we continue the previous practice by listing attested lexical products of word formation related to the headword.

Essentially, a comprehensive network of information encompassing lexemes, concepts, usage, context, and discourse is established for each keyword. Whenever feasible, a more extensive description is supplied, including details about meaning, etymology, morphological structure, grammatical aspects, normative uncertainties, synonyms, and favoured thematic domains in various text types. Similarly, the preferred thematic focus of particular vocabulary in specific linguistic varieties is supplied, such as preferred usage in Swiss German, and differences observed in spoken discourse, online communication, or within the realm of the press. The overall picture should serve to knit different individual pieces of information more closely together, especially where more complex relationships are to be made visible.

2.2. Presentation: The user’s choice.

In the early stages of the conceptual phase, it became clear that, apart from introducing new methods, it was necessary to evaluate current editorial practices and reconsider the specifics provided for each entry. Furthermore, it was essential to create more adaptable presentation choices for various types of information in order to cater for diverse users’ needs. Given that nearly two decades have passed since the conceptual phase and the release of the previous version of the Neologismenwörterbuch (2006ff.), it’s quite natural that the forthcoming Neo-Dictionary will exhibit a notably distinct appearance. To begin with, users can opt for one of two views when looking up a word. Information can be accessed either through a text view with a navigation menu, or alternatively through a tile view, and it is possible to switch between these two options at any point, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

By providing two fundamentally different views, we can accommodate varying reading and search preferences. Figure 2 illustrates a segment of the tile-based display with three sections. To switch to the text view with the menu navigation, you can activate the associated symbol (icon, top right in Figure 2 or 3).

Various visual representations accompany information regarding the dissemination and evolution of neologisms. Interactive charts display frequency data at specific time intervals, as well as the emergence of new words in various German-speaking regions. Moreover, dynamic infographics are incorporated to provide a concise overview of notable events related to new terms, such as the introduction of new laws, technological advancements, trends, and more, which have played a significant role in the proliferation of a particular expression (see Figure 4).

Using the “pin” feature within the tile view (as indicated by the pin icon in Figures 2 and 4) enables users to select and merge dictionary data. By activating a category’s pin, its content is anchored, allowing further hand-picked entry sections such as “Herkunft und Entwicklung” ‘Origins and Development’” and “Wissenswertes ‘Background Information’” to be connected and viewed together. The choice of the combination is up to the user. As a result, more customised entries or sections tailored to the user’s specific interests can be created.

Overall, there are numerous changes, with some being readily apparent, while others pertain to editorial procedures, data selection and analysis, or the incorporation of new linguistic criteria, many of which are not visible on the user interface. But the strong connection between lexical, semantic, and encyclopaedic information for each headword will inform users about the close relationship between words and concepts as well as between language and society.

3. The New Neo-Dashboard

We have multiple options for sharing the outcomes of our project work, which do not adhere to the conventional dictionary format, with the interested user. Our objective in the redesign was not only to offer an updated reference resource but also to expand and supplement the range of information available, particularly with regard to details which do not refer to a single headword but rather to collective parts of the new vocabulary. This approach empowers users to explore new content and delve more profoundly into our work. To facilitate this, the Neo-Dictionary is combined with a Neo-Dashboard, enabling flexible switching between these two resources at any given moment.⁴ It is referred to as a dashboard here because different information is documented and arranged in an easy-to-digest form on a single screen in a customisable, responsive, masonry-style layout, a design often used for dashboards. The lexicographic Neo-Dashboard is an informative summary of different, partially aggregated and sometimes related data sets and these are presented together in a dynamic and visualised way with interactive elements.

3.1. Spectrum of dashboard content

The dashboard will serve to monitor, measure, and document specific data and contents in the area of German neologisms and the project researching and documenting in this field. The data is taken from different sources. It displays a diverse range of content presented in various formats, providing a comprehensive visual showcase of dictionary and project data. This includes, for instance, interactive statistical graphs, academic papers, research findings, podcasts, the “YOUR word suggestion” feature, updates on ongoing discussions, listings of the most recent dictionary entries, a general introductory video, collections of new headwords representing a specific discourse and more. These individual contents tell very different stories, convey factual and linguistic knowledge, and are presented bundled in the dashboard (see Figure 5).

On the one hand, the aim is to provide a platform for project activities and increase their visibility to the public; on the other hand, we aim to create an inspiring environment that encourages exploration and discovery while appealing to different interests. To this end, various media formats such as texts, videos, interviews, tables, charts, and graphs are presented in diverse (audio-)visual, partly interactive forms. One of the major advantages of a dashboard is its ability to add new content and its customisability, where it is possible to rearrange content according to different criteria, such as statistics, most looked-at or new content. Overall, the Neo-Dashboard is a versatile tool, which brings together a broad amount of data that can answer many different questions or inspire the user to browse and discover new facts about new words.

3.2. Discourse and neology

The new resource focuses more on discursive structures and functions of neologisms. While new types of information can be found in headword entries, some content prompts users to study complex connections within the lexicon, moving beyond individual headwords. As numerous new words illustrate different structural parts of a discourse, new discourses can best be studied by headword-encompassing information. In the dictionary entries, information regarding critical discourse is included for headwords that exhibit distinctive discourse-related attributes. The examination of discourse encompasses a broad spectrum of linguistic structures and social phenomena, such as interactional processes, argumentation, attitudes, and positions, as observed through textual patterns. These patterns can be identified and scrutinised utilizing corpus-assisted methods, as indicated by Partington (2004), Baker (2006), and Partington et al. (2013). Similarly, in the realm of German discourse studies, Storjohann & Cimander (2022) point out the close relationship between neology and communicative structures in the context of Covid discourse. New coinages, word formations, and borrowings can serve as keywords and lexical indicators, outlining the development or thematic focus of a discourse and indicating that the ways we use neologisms, for instance in the media, can significantly influence people’s perceptions. New vocabulary can express discursive foci, patterns of argumentation, and topicalisations within the narratives of a discourse. Consequently, delving into neologisms not only aids in depicting typical contexts and thematic preferences but also helps to identify speakers’ attitudes and interpretations. This is especially applicable to lexical terms associated with controversies in public debates. such as Cancel Culture ‘cancel culture’, Genderzeichen ‘gender symbol’, Klimakleber ‘climate activist glueing him/herself onto the road’, and Shrinkflation ‘shrinkflation’.

On the dashboard, users have the opportunity to explore current discourses and receive a summary of the new terms associated with public discussions. Therefore, not only does this resource complement the dictionary but some of its content can be seen as a reverse approach to understanding new linguistic phenomena. This interplay between information-specific details of individual lexemes and broader linguistic knowledge spanning multiple lexemes becomes particularly evident when examining the relationship between neologisms and (critical) discourse. This interplay is a mixture of semasiological and onomasiological consultation. For instance, journalists frequently pose questions such as, ‘What are the latest terms related to the energy crisis?’ and ‘Which new headwords relating to the discourse of climate crisis are more dominant than others?’. Particular contents summarise new terms related to specific discourse areas such as the climate crisis, the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and current political issues, as demonstrated in Figure 6. Comparing frequency graphs of various neologisms categorised under a particular discourse allows for a comparative analysis to identify peaks and variations, such as those in the emergence, evolution, and dissemination of new words.

When a tile is chosen, the network of newly introduced vocabulary associated with a particular discourse will expand. Currently, the presentation of the insights gained by new lexical units within a discourse is under construction. The time of emergence as well as the chronological development of the participating discursive expressions will play a central role, accompanied by frequency graphs and concise explanations referring to the structural lexical-semantic elements of the underlying discourse by offering an illustration of the network of related neologisms.

While traditional collocation analyses are crucial in the semantic exploration of a single new term, collocation profiles are equally valuable in identifying semantically related terms. This, in turn, facilitates the systematic examination of discourse structures. A prime illustration of this is found in the novel approach of corpus-assisted methods, particularly vector-based and word-embedding models. These models enable the analysis of a discourse’s internal structures and its evolution over time by identifying the central themes within it. The new approach can be applied to analyse contextual usage and shifts, primarily in the paradigmatic sense (Kupietz et al. 2018 and Fankhauser & Kupietz 2019). These interactive analysing tools access DeReKo (the German Reference Corpus) and therefore provide a good access point for lexicographic examination and interpretation, as they reveal degrees of lexical proximity between paradigmatically related terms (see Figure 7).

Key terms that are paradigmatically similar and hence connected can serve as discourse markers for thematic domains. The term Energiekrise or energy crisis is a prominent subject of critical discourse closely linked to the Ukraine war since 2021. It is often interconnected with other contemporary or recent crises, forming groups of terms that describe various aspects of the Covid-Krise ‘Covid-19 crisis’, Chipkrise ‘chip crisis’, Gaskrise ‘gas crisis’, Versorgungskrise ‘supply crisis’, Klimakrise ‘climate crisis’, and others. Indeed, many new words that have emerged since 2020 can be categorised into these related groups, showcasing specific additions to the German vocabulary.

To date, the utilisation of word embeddings, which is a usage-based approach to discourse, has been employed for individual investigations of critical discourses. For instance, Bubenhofer (2020) and (2022) uses this approach to identify central themes, recurring motifs, cognitive frameworks, narratives, arguments, and ideology. Nonetheless, these methods have not been harnessed for lexicographic objectives. Presently, there is an ongoing assessment of the application and benefits of this approach for the purpose of lexicographic analysis and visual data representation. The case of information on discourse reveals the close synergy of critical discourse analysis, neology, and lexicography and generally calls for lexicographic implications for corpus-based critical discourse studies with respect to neologisms. Such future implications will complement the German tradition of ‘Diskurslexikografie’ (Kämper 2006), which so far has mainly looked at terms of socio-political relevance in past decades and from a diachronic view (e.g. terms related to historical turning points such as Weimar Republic, Third Reich, 1968 movement). While Kämper was a pioneer at establishing a new dictionary type by developing an elaborate dictionary structure that can look at a historically relevant discourse from many perspectives, her descriptions were not corpus-based. This paper suggests continuing and extending her work by including the treatment of discourse-bound neologisms and by using comprehensive corpus data and tools, as these support us in the detection of neologisms, reveal changes within discourse structures over time, and indicate the relationship between paradigmatically similar terms.

To summarise, the dashboard transcends conventional lexicographic entries, capable of narrating diverse stories related to a linguistic phenomenon. It functions as an information system that compiles various facets of neologisms and can integrate multiple data formats. In addition, one significant advantage of the dashboard, similar to the Neo-Dictionary and its entries, is its ability to undergo regular updates (e.g. of data related to frequencies), additions (new published papers or podcasts), or adjustments (new data can be added at any time).

3. Summary and outlook

Overall, the aim of the new resource is to further the lexicographic depiction of German neologisms by providing dynamic and informative entries which meet users’ needs and by offering innovative formats to inform users about ongoing research and its results. Furthermore, it can answer some of the most relevant questions users have about new words. Initially, as new entries are constantly being created, the Neo-Dictionary is being developed as an online resource. Subsequently, the Neo-Dashboard will be implemented as a supplementary tool for exploration and discovery. The development and refinement of online resources, tailored to meet the needs and interests of users, constitute a central focus for several lexicographic projects at the Leibniz Institute for the German language. Moving forward, user requirements will be not only studied through user studies (Müller Spitzer 2014) but also continually assessed through online forums, where many community members share their linguistic queries, often accompanied by details about their specific context, dictionary usage habits, and the challenges they encounter when searching for words (Storjohann 2022). This in-depth understanding of their dictionary use aids in establishing new dictionary sections designed to cater to specific needs. This approach applies to both native speakers and language learners, as all new resources in the realm of neologisms aim to bring together diverse user groups by taking into consideration their individual requirements.

It is important to note that the resource described in this paper will continually expand, with plans to incorporate an additional online dictionary that compares neological near-synonyms in the future. Linguistic doubt frequently emerges when dealing with alternative terms, such as loanwords (for instance, Lockdown/Shutdown, Microblading/Powder Brows), loanwords and their corresponding loan translations (such as Carework/Carearbeit, Microgreens/Mikrogrün), or when comparing new loanwords to older German equivalents (such as Content/Inhalt). Given that a number of neological equivalents in meaning can lead to lexical uncertainty, the online dictionary will record two or more lexical items in contrasting entries. In this context, users will find information on the similarities and distinctions between these items, as well as the specific contexts in which each is used. For instance, examples such as Greening/Begrünung, traden/mit Aktien handeln, Greenflation/grüne Inflation, and Vaxxie/Impfie will be addressed to illustrate this concept (cf. Storjohann & Pawels 2023). To gain a more profound insight into context and subtle semantic distinctions, additional information in the form of associated words or collocates often provides answers regarding context, reference, domain, style and register. Uncertainties also frequently arise when a significant influx of Anglicisms, particularly within a specific domain, occurs suddenly. For example, terms such as Breadcrumbing, Benching, Ghosting, Love Bombing, Mosting, Stashing, and Orbiting, all originating from English, are associated with online dating or behavioural strategies of social media users and these demand precise distinctions. Comparing neologisms requires the level of granularity that is typically associated with these terms. Essentially, these concerns relate to the origin, etymology, and structure of words containing foreign elements, or the correct grammatical usage of nouns, such as gender, genitive, and plural forms. Inflection patterns also pose significant issues for adjectives and verbs. Additionally, numerous neologisms require more context-based information and details regarding their initial appearance. Again, this resource will be linked to the Neo-Dashboard where new domain-sharing terms can be studied systematically through onomasiological searches.

References

Footnotes