Semantic change and word formation during Covid-19 in the Philippines

Abstract

This study explored the semantic change and word formation of the English language terms used during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Philippines. There were 50 words selected from the memorandum and executive orders of the national and local government units and those from news reports posted online on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). These words were analyzed using the components of the neologism framework proposed by Krishnamurthy (2010) on the word formation, borrowing, and lexical deviation and that of Crowley and Bowern (2010) for semantic change.  The results of the study revealed four types of semantic change (i.e., widening, narrowing, semantic shift, and bifurcation), and the newly discovered words were categorized into compounding, acronym, and conversion.

This study provides implications that in times of crisis (such as the Covid-19 pandemic), Filipinos tend to create and recreate words within a context easily understood by the community to establish clear communication.