The ENEOLI Action was proudly represented at the 16th Conference of the European Society for the Study of English (ESSE 2026) through the presentation When Words Are New: Comparing Human Intuition and AI Consistency, co-authored by Michaela Hroteková, Esther Odilia Breuer, and Neslihan Önder Özdemir.

The paper was presented within the panel on the Creativity of Word-Formation, chaired by Elisa Mattiello and Pavol Štekauer, bringing together scholars working on neology, word-formation, lexical creativity, and language change. The presentation showcased ongoing research of WG3.3, lead by Esther Odilia Breuer, investigating how humans and artificial intelligence systems interpret newly created words across languages. By comparing human responses with outputs generated by multiple AI chatbots, the study offered new insights into the relationship between linguistic innovation, cognition, and machine language processing.

Beyond the presentation itself, ESSE 2026 provided an excellent opportunity for networking and strengthening existing collaborations. Valuable discussions took place with leading scholars in the field, and reconnecting with old and new members. Several additional contacts were established with researchers whose expertise may contribute to future ENEOLI-related initiatives.

Participation in ESSE 2026 not only increased the visibility of the ENEOLI Action within the international academic community but also reinforced its role as a platform connecting scholars interested in neology, multilingualism, and language technologies. The conference demonstrated the growing relevance of ENEOLI’s work and created a strong foundation for future research collaborations, interdisciplinary partnerships, and new initiatives within and beyond the field of lexicology.