What is "lexicalization"

n. 1 The act or process of lexicalize. 2 Something lexicalized.

n. the process of making a word to express a concept [syn: lexicalisation]

Lexicalization is the process of adding words, set phrases, or word patterns to a language – that is, of adding items to a language's lexicon. Whether or not word formation and lexicalization refer to the same process is the source of controversy within the field of linguistics. Most linguists assert that there is a distinction, but there are many ideas of what the distinction is. Lexicalization may be simple, for example borrowing a word from another language, or more involved, as in loan translation.

Other mechanisms include compounding, abbreviation, and blending. Particularly interesting from the perspective of historical linguistics is the process by which ad hoc phrases become set in the language, and eventually become new words. (See lexicon for details.) Lexicalization contrasts with grammaticalization, and the relationship between the two processes is subject to some debate.