FEATURED NEOLOGISM:

One of my favorite neologisms is “écoblanchiment”, the French equivalent of greenwashing. It is a blend (mot-valise) of “écologie” (ecology) and “blanchiment” (whitening, in the sense of money laundering or covering up), mirroring the English term greenwashing, which combines green (environmentally friendly) and whitewashing (concealing the truth).

This term emerged in the late 20th century as environmental awareness grew, describing misleading marketing practices where companies falsely present their products or policies as environmentally responsible. It has since gained traction in media and policy discussions, reflecting increasing public concern about corporate sustainability claims.

The term écoblanchiment is interesting because it showcases how languages creatively adapt and localize neologisms while maintaining their core meaning.

I am a researcher specializing in euphemistic neologisms in French, with a particular focus on the role of English borrowings as catalysts for lexical innovation. My work explores the creative and adaptive processes that enrich the French lexicon in a constantly evolving linguistic environment. Additionally, I am interested in comparative studies with Spanish and Galician, allowing for the identification of convergences and divergences in language usage. My research aims to deepen our understanding of lexical dynamics and offer new perspectives on linguistic evolution in Europe.