NEW TENDENCIES AND PECULIARITIES IN THE FORMATION OF ACRONYMS IN MODERN ENGLISH

Dumitru MELENCIUC Moldova State University

Abstract

The evolution of acronyms is often accompanied by a metasemiotic usage. Names of institutions and organizations are chosen to sound more attractive. Internet users actively contribute in forming new abbreviations, including acronyms and bachronyms. Languages are subject to two contrary tendencies: improvements of means of speech, linguists support diversification and renovation of suggestive and emotional possibilities of language expressivity. The principle of discourse economy implies the reduction of linguistic units to the minimal space and time dimensions of the presented text, pragmatic exigency characteristic to modern times. We observe the process of abbreviation of various abridged units having a pragmatic character, expressing as much information in as little space and time possible. Abbreviations are used to codify linguistic information for the optimization of communication. Keywords: Acronym, backronym, metalinguistic unit, abbreviation of abbreviations, metasemiotic usage.