Cognitive approach to the theory of abbreviation

Abstract

The formation of abbreviations is explained mainly by the action of two factors: extralinguistic and intralinguistic. Extralinguistic factors include social transformations, scientific and technological progress, and interethnic changes. Being qualitative in nature, they are characterized by dialectical dynamics. Intralinguistic factors should be understood as the effect of internal laws that determine the evolution of language. In language there is a dialectical struggle of opposites, which determines its self-development. These opposites can be called language antinomies, each identity is the key to the stability of the system, the specific resolution of any of these opposites generates new collisions, new contradictions in the language (in principle-of the same order) and, consequently, their final resolution is impossible: they are a constant stimulus for the internal development of the language. The stimulus to abbreviate lies with the speaker, who has full knowledge of information, in the process of communication and unilaterally seeks to reduce multi-component and cumbersome terms represented by long words, complex words and phrases. Language signs are replaced with codes by communicants, and familiar words are shortened.