Coronavirus changes the Czech language – the formation of new lexemes

Abstract

The article focuses on newly emerging Czech words (see neologisms and neosemantisms). The reasons for the formation of such lexemes were given and their importance was selectively emphasized. Several examples of creating new lexical and word-formation structures were cited, and problematic linguistic connections from the point of view of political correctness were also specified. New lexical adhesions were narrowed down mainly with the prefix korona-, but also words profiling other artifacts or activities were quoted: Czech rouška – English mask, Czech distanční vzdělávání/výuka – English distance learning, Czech společenský odestup/rozestup – English social distance, Czech eRecept – English e-prescription. etc. Some of these newly created names are experiencing a real renaissance due to the much higher attendance as they have shifted from the periphery towards the center of the language.