Gender-biased neologisms: the case of man-X
This article presents a semantic and frequency-based diffusion analysis of one specific type of gendered coinages that we will refer to as “man-neologisms” such as man bun, mancation (man + vacation) or manspread. Our study (based on Foubert [2018]) reveals that man in these coinages only rarely car...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/2453 |
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| author | Océane Foubert Maarten Lemmens |
| author_facet | Océane Foubert Maarten Lemmens |
| author_sort | Océane Foubert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article presents a semantic and frequency-based diffusion analysis of one specific type of gendered coinages that we will refer to as “man-neologisms” such as man bun, mancation (man + vacation) or manspread. Our study (based on Foubert [2018]) reveals that man in these coinages only rarely carries a generic meaning (referring to human beings in general, as in man is mortal) but mostly have a gender-specific meaning (“of, or related to, men”). Our analysis of the meanings of these man-specific neologisms shows that they are gender specific and mainly concern domains which are typically associated with women. Moreover, our analysis reveals four motivations behind the coinages of man-neologisms: (i) the reappropriation of domains which are typically associated with women, as in man purse (a purse for men), (ii) the reinforcement of differences, such as man cave (a room for men only), (iii) the confirmation of stereotypes, as in man science (a branch of knowledge available to men only), (iv) and naming undesirable male behaviours, mainly in an attempt to change them, such as mansplain (man + explain; men explaining things to women in a condescending way). The diffusion analysis observing the frequency of occurrences of man-neologisms reveals that neologisms aiming at the reappropriation of domains and particularly those naming undesirable male behaviours are less numerous in the list of coinages themselves, but more inclined to be diffused, contrary to neologisms reinforcing differences and confirming stereotypes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-59785e1716714fb9be7afdf8e8c2d61d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1951-6215 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3 |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology |
| spelling | doaj-art-59785e1716714fb9be7afdf8e8c2d61d2024-12-09T14:52:54ZengUniversité Jean Moulin - Lyon 3Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology1951-62152018-12-011210.4000/lexis.2453Gender-biased neologisms: the case of man-XOcéane FoubertMaarten LemmensThis article presents a semantic and frequency-based diffusion analysis of one specific type of gendered coinages that we will refer to as “man-neologisms” such as man bun, mancation (man + vacation) or manspread. Our study (based on Foubert [2018]) reveals that man in these coinages only rarely carries a generic meaning (referring to human beings in general, as in man is mortal) but mostly have a gender-specific meaning (“of, or related to, men”). Our analysis of the meanings of these man-specific neologisms shows that they are gender specific and mainly concern domains which are typically associated with women. Moreover, our analysis reveals four motivations behind the coinages of man-neologisms: (i) the reappropriation of domains which are typically associated with women, as in man purse (a purse for men), (ii) the reinforcement of differences, such as man cave (a room for men only), (iii) the confirmation of stereotypes, as in man science (a branch of knowledge available to men only), (iv) and naming undesirable male behaviours, mainly in an attempt to change them, such as mansplain (man + explain; men explaining things to women in a condescending way). The diffusion analysis observing the frequency of occurrences of man-neologisms reveals that neologisms aiming at the reappropriation of domains and particularly those naming undesirable male behaviours are less numerous in the list of coinages themselves, but more inclined to be diffused, contrary to neologisms reinforcing differences and confirming stereotypes.https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/2453neologismgenderlexical semanticsdiffusion |
| spellingShingle | Océane Foubert Maarten Lemmens Gender-biased neologisms: the case of man-X Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology neologism gender lexical semantics diffusion |
| title | Gender-biased neologisms: the case of man-X |
| title_full | Gender-biased neologisms: the case of man-X |
| title_fullStr | Gender-biased neologisms: the case of man-X |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender-biased neologisms: the case of man-X |
| title_short | Gender-biased neologisms: the case of man-X |
| title_sort | gender biased neologisms the case of man x |
| topic | neologism gender lexical semantics diffusion |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/2453 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT oceanefoubert genderbiasedneologismsthecaseofmanx AT maartenlemmens genderbiasedneologismsthecaseofmanx |