Additional information
Author Information:
Vazhenina Olena, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Ukrainian Language, Theory and History of Ukrainian and World Literature at Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University; research interests: phraseology, word formation, morphology, neology.
Correspondence: o.vazhenina@donnu.edu.ua
Vernyhora Liudmyla, 2nd year master's student, Educational Programme ‘Ukrainian Language and Literature’.
Correspondence: vernyhora.l@donnu.edu.ua
Citation:
Vazhenina O., Vernyhora L. Holophrasis as a marker of the creative evolution of Ukrainian word formation [Text] // Linhvistychni Studiyi / Linguistic Studies : collection of scientific papers / Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University; Ed. by Anatoliy Zahnitko. Vinnytsia : Vasyl' Stus DonNU, 2025. Vol. 50. Pp. 7-18. ISBN 966-7277-88-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31558/1815-3070.2025.50
Publication History:
Volume first published online: December 04, 2025
Received: 01.07.2025
Received in revised form: 28.08.2025
Accepted: 10.10.2025
First published online: December 04, 2025
The article analyzes the phenomenon of holophrasis as a non-standard method of word formation that demonstrates a tendency toward active functioning in contemporary Ukrainian discourse, particularly in online discourse and socio-political communication. Its role within the structure of electronic texts and virtual communication is defined, while the pragmatic, cognitive-communicative, and media-linguistic aspects of holophrasis are described. The study reveals its functions in literary, journalistic, and political discourses, as well as the mechanisms behind the formation of new word-formation models. Special attention is paid to the interrelation of holophrasis with the development of speakers’ communicative competence, the intentional-pragmatic organization of texts, and the processes of institutionalization of neologisms in the modern linguistic landscape of Ukraine.
Keywords: holophrasis, discourse, internet discourse, communication, communicative strategy, communicative tactic, intention, pragmatics, electronic text, media linguistics.
© The Editorial Council and Editorial Board of Linguistic Studies Linguistic Studies
Volume 50, 2025, pp. 7-18
Holophrasis as a marker of the creative evolution of Ukrainian word formation
Vazhenina Olena, Vernyhora Liudmyla
Article first published online: December 04, 2025
© Важеніна О., Вернигора Л., 2025. Статтю опубліковано на умовах відкритого доступу за ліцензією CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
HOLOPHRASIS AS A MARKER OF THE CREATIVE EVOLUTION OF UKRAINIAN WORD FORMATION
Olena Vazhenina
Department of Ukrainian Language, Theory and History of Ukrainian and World Literature, Vasyl’ Stus Donetsk National University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine.
Liudmyla Vernyhora
Department of Ukrainian Language, Theory and History of Ukrainian and World Literature, Vasyl’ Stus Donetsk National University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine.
Abstract
Background: In modern Ukrainian, there is an active renewal of word-formation resources, which reflects socio-cultural dynamics. One of the most striking manifestations of this trend is holophrasis. Holophrasis is an unusual way of word formation, in which an entire expression or sentence is condensed into a single word. Although scholars are interested in the problem of innovative word formation, the phenomenon of holophrasis has not yet been sufficiently understood in derivational morphology, cognitive semantics, and media linguistics.
Purpose: The purpose of this article is to reveal the word-formation potential of holophrases as an indicator of the creative evolution of the Ukrainian language and to determine the mechanisms of their morphologisation and standardisation, as well as their functional load in various types of contemporary discourse.
Results: Holophrases are considered a dynamic tool of linguistic creativity, combining the features of a word, an expression and a graphic sign. It has been established that holophrases such as ‘Analohovniet, ‘Krymnashysm’, ‘vsepropalschyk’, “yikhtamnetka”, ‘netudydiialnyiand others arise in artistic, journalistic, political and internet discourses, performing nominative, evaluative, ironic and consolidating functions. The derivational dynamics of their transition from expressive-occasional to usual word-formation types have been established. Holophrases act as an intermediate link between syntax and morphology, demonstrating the process of morphologicalisation of whole expressions and the expansion of the word-formation potential of the Ukrainian language.
Discussion: Holophrasis reflects the innovativeness and flexibility of the Ukrainian word-formation system, its ability to adapt creatively in the context of digital communication. Further studies should focus on describing the formal-grammatical, semantic and pragmatic parameters of holophrasis and its role in the development of modern neology.
Keywords: holophrasis, word formation, internet discourse, communication, neologism, morphologisation, standardisation, media linguistics.
Vitae
Vazhenina Olena, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Ukrainian Language, Theory and History of Ukrainian and World Literature at Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University; research interests: phraseology, word formation, morphology, neology.
Correspondence: o.vazhenina@donnu.edu.ua
Vernyhora Liudmyla, 2nd year master's student, Educational Programme ‘Ukrainian Language and Literature’.
Correspondence: vernyhora.l@donnu.edu.ua
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