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Abstract:
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This paper examines the functions and different frequency of blendwords in contemporary German, English and Japanese, respectively. It is shown that blendwords in the three languages investigated have a role that extends far beyond the simple filling of lexical gaps, particularly concerning Japanese. In addition, blendwords frequently take the place of an existing equivalent in the respective mother tongue where they perform various functions such as attention getting devices and for euphemistic effect. Drawing largely on the evaluation of data from internet corpora and their frequency as well as on the specific characteristics of the three languages and their speakers’ attitudes towards them, this paper attempts to conclusively prove different extents of tendency concerning the formation and usage of blendwords.
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