Abstract: Lexical borrowing is a social process, and to account for it, it is necessary
to underline the importance of human activities in language change. In analysing
the French vocabulary of the Internet, this article takes as a starting point the
broadly-based concept of the “event”, thereby shedding light on the social
dynamics linked to borrowing. It investigates the concept of the linguistic event,
which can be applied to the neological reaction leading to the conscious creation
of new terms by French terminologists. This approach brings together the
coining of new words and the conscious efforts of those involved, using lexical
semantics and discourse analysis. As a conclusion, however, the article leaves
the question open as to whether there is a clear distinction to be made between a
linguistic and a discursive event.
