A Linguistic Analysis of COVID-19 Neologisms in English: Bangladesh Perspective

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted how we use language globally, resulting in an increase in new terms and expressions. Bangladesh, like the rest of the world, has also experienced this linguistic transformation. This study aims to identify and analyze the words, phrases, and acronyms that have gained prominence in English language usage during and after the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. The study focuses on both global and Bangladesh-specific language usage. Through a systematic literature review and quantitative analysis of a corpus spanning from January to June 2020 in Bangladesh, the study compiled and examined COVID-19-related vocabulary. The objective was to pinpoint the specific terms and expressions that gained prominence in English during this period. Additionally, the study analyzed a selection of the newly emerged words to determine the techniques of word formation. This study's findings enhance our knowledge of language change dynamics and offer valuable insights into the direct relationship between societal upheavals, such as the global pandemic, and language evolution. The research illuminates how language adapts and expands in response to significant events, providing valuable insights into the interplay between language and society.