Abstract: This study focuses on a limited number of neologisms which appeared in the
French press during the economic crisis of 2008-2009. The criteria used to select these
neologisms are discussed, in particular with regard to neologisms of form and neologisms
of meaning. The first category is relatively easy to identify, since there these words are
either borrowed from English or are new constructions in French modelled on an Englishlanguage
source. The second category, which is more difficult to spot, is studied in more
detail here, in particular those adjectives, nouns and noun groups whose meaning is taken
from English, in particular in the form of metaphors. Examples taken from both English
and French language media are studied with a view to determining how these words are
incorporated into French, thereby demonstrating the interest of the new field of inquiry :
that of LSP neologisms.
