Investigating Neologisms in Politics

Abstract

This article investigates the emergence and function of neologisms within political discourse, defining them as linguistic tools that reflect social, economic, and political shifts. By examining politics as both the art of governance and a process of conflict resolution, the study explores how politicians deliberately coin “coded” language to manipulate public opinion, conceal truths, or simplify complex ideological goals. These terms are classified into referential and expressive categories, providing a historical analysis of 19 specific examples—such as “normalcy,” “vietnamization,” and "intifada"—to demonstrate how new lexical units become embedded in the collective consciousness during times of crisis. Ultimately, the research concludes that while neologisms enrich language through cultural contact and borrowing, their primary role in the political arena is to function as tools for “language manipulation” to serve undeclared governmental aims.