MAPPING NEOLOGY: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THEORETICAL APPROACHES IN THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT

This article examines selected key theoretical approaches to neology in contemporary European linguistics, with particular emphasis on the French and Catalan traditions, as well as complementary perspectives from the Anglo-German framework. Rather than treating neology as a self-evident linguistic category, the study argues that the concept of neology is fundamentally theory-dependent, with its definition and scope varying according to underlying epistemological assumptions. The analysis focuses on how different approaches conceptualise the notion of neologism and how they classify lexical innovation. Adopting a qualitative meta-theoretical approach, the study compares five representative frameworks selected for their historical relevance, theoretical complementarity, and academic impact. The comparison is structured around four analytical dimensions: theoretical scope, conceptualization of neologism, functions of neology, and typological criteria. The findings reveal both significant convergences and notable divergences. The selected approaches broadly converge on the dynamic, context-dependent nature of neology and the inadequacy of single-criterion definitions. However, they differ substantially in their delimitation of what counts as a neologism, their analytical focus – ranging from product to process to discourse – and their typology models. The evolution of neological studies is interpreted as a gradual shift from structurally oriented and product-based models toward more dynamic, usage-based, and discursive perspectives. This shift reflects a broader tendency in linguistics to integrate cognitive, social, and pragmatic dimensions into the analysis of language. The article concludes that a comprehensive understanding of neology requires an integrative framework capable of accommodating its multidimensional and evolving nature.