Social Networks of Lexical Innovation. Investigating the Social Dynamics of Diffusion of Neologisms on Twitter

Abstract

Societies continually evolve and speakers use new words to talk about innovative products and practices. While most lexical innovations soon fall into disuse, others spread successfully and become part of the lexicon. In this paper, I conduct a longitudinal study of the spread of 99 English neologisms on Twitter to study their degrees and pathways of diffusion. Previous work on lexical innovation has almost exclusively relied on usage frequency for investigating the spread of new words. To get a more differentiated picture of diffusion, I use frequency-based measures to study temporal aspects of diffusion and I use network analyses for a more detailed and accurate investigation of the sociolinguistic dynamics of diffusion. The results show that frequency measures manage to capture diffusion with varying success. Frequency counts can serve as an approximate indicator for overall degrees of diffusion, yet they miss important information about the temporal usage profiles of lexical innovations. The results indicate that neologisms with similar total frequency can exhibit significantly different degrees of diffusion. Analysing differences in their temporal dynamics of use with regard to their age, trends in usage intensity, and volatility contributes to a more accurate account of their diffusion. The results obtained from the social network analysis reveal substantial differences in the social pathways of diffusion. Social diffusion significantly correlates with the frequency and temporal usage profiles of neologisms. However, the network visualisations and metrics identify neologisms whose degrees of social diffusion are more limited than suggested by their overall frequency of use. These include, among others, highly volatile neologisms (e.g., poppygate) and political terms (e.g., alt-left), whose use almost exclusively goes back to single communities of closely-connected, like-minded individuals. I argue that the inclusion of temporal and social information is of particular importance for the study of lexical innovation since neologisms exhibit high degrees of temporal volatility and social indexicality. More generally, the present approach demonstrates the potential of social network analysis for sociolinguistic research on linguistic innovation, variation, and change.

Signal propagation in complex networks

“…[749]) -over social networks. Würschinger [750], in his aptly titled paper ''Social Networks of Lexical Innovation'' has investigated the social dynamics of diffusion of neologisms on Twitter, in particular a longitudinal study of the spread of 99 English neologisms to study their degrees and pathways of diffusion. Since previous work on lexical innovation has almost exclusively relied on usage frequency for investigating the spread of new words, Würschinger has used frequency-based measures to study temporal aspects of diffusion and network analyses for a more detailed and accurate investigation of the sociolinguistic dynamics of diffusion.…”

“…In particular, neologisms with similar total frequency can exhibit significantly different degrees of diffusion, and analyzing these differences in their temporal dynamics of use with regard to their age, trends in usage intensity, and volatility contributes to a more accurate account of their diffusion. The inclusion of temporal and social information has thus been deemed of particular importance for the study of lexical innovation since neologisms exhibit high degrees of temporal volatility and social indexicality [750].…”

‘I am very emo’

“…More recently, those neologisms used in social networking spaces occupy a privileged position because they are currently, as Vettorel (2014: 6) asserts, ‘the preferred means to keep in touch with friends.’ Because of the very common presence of English in Chinese social networking spaces, we agree with the statement that ‘in the virtual world, English exerts more of its influence among its speakers as seen in social media and chat avenues’ (Reyes & Jubilado, 2012: 43). Social media have become increasingly significant web resources for lexical innovations featuring informality and creativity (Würschinger, 2021), which provokes them as important platforms for investigating lexical innovations.…”

New Developments in English for Special Purposes (ESP) Lexicology and Lexicography

“…On the one hand, new terms and senses are incorporated into already existing lexicons, while, on the other hand, micro-languages with a rich variety of novel lexical items keep appearing. Some cases in point are ecotourism discourse which has been accelerated by recent greater awareness of the impact of human activities on the environment (Penz & Fill, 2022); the language of digital technology, now that societies and technologies have become increasingly interconnected (Würschinger, 2021); certain medical talk, as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic (Salazar & Wild, 2022), to mention just a few areas of lexical innovation.…”