New terms are commonly required in all sciences and technologies when new objects or parts of objects are created and new processes come into play. The creation of terms is mainly based on existing text materials and it is carried out through processes such as:
- Combining existing text materials ("neologism") – e.g. e-learning (from electronic learning), blogging (from Web and logging)
- Derivation ("neologism") – by adding suffixes or prefixes e.g. to analyse, analysis, analytically
- Creation of simple terms ("neologism") – e.g. in the computer field protocol, software, window
- Creation of complex terms ("neologism") – e.g. video remote controller, instant keys, optical drive, etc.
- Creation of short forms ("neologism") – CPU (for central processing unit), WLAN (wireless local area network)
- Adoption of terms from a different language ("borrowed terms") – e.g. casserole (from French meaning "saucepan" in English), ragout (from French meaning "ragout sauce" in English)
- Adoption of terms from a different subject field ("borrowed terms") –e.g. mouse (from the computer and biology fields), port (from the nautics and computer fields) [Source: adapted from DIN 2330, p. 9]
To form compound and complex terms, Germanic and Slavic languages, for example, combine word elements in abstract sequences, whilst others such as Romance languages use explicit, logical linking elements (e.g. prepositions) to form multiword structures (Wright and Budin, 1997:14).