Neosemantization in the contemporary Ukrainian language: factors activating internal nomination resources

Abstract

This monograph explores the phenomenon of neosemantization in contemporary Ukrainian, focusing particularly on the tendency to renew the lexicon by employing internal nominative resources – native and assimilated borrowed elements. Drawing on Ukrainian texts spanning various styles and genres, as well as data from Ukrainian language corpora and extensive lexicographic sources, the study identifies and analyses three primary categories of neosemantisms: lexical units that retain familiar forms yet acquire novel meanings. These include semantic derivatives, hidden borrowings, and newly formed homonyms. Attention is given to refining the classification criteria for these lexical innovations, elucidating the mechanisms and sources behind the emergence of new meanings, and evaluating the functional potential of neosemantisms. The monograph examines their integration into the linguistic system through syntagmatic, paradigmatic, and epidigmatic relations. Furthermore, the study addresses the lexicographic representation of such innovations in 21st-century Ukrainian dictionaries. The analyzed material highlights the Ukrainian language’s capacity for semantic innovation and its ability to adapt dynamically to the demands of modernity and globalization while preserving its national identity and typological features of nomination. This monograph is intended for scientists, educators, students, and anyone interested in the processes shaping the Ukrainian language today. Keywords: Ukrainian language, neosemantism, neosemantization, semantic derivation, hidden borrowing, recurrent derivational model, polysemy, homonymy