OCCASIONAL WORDS AS A LINGUISTIC PHENOMENON

The present article examines occasionalisms as a dynamic mechanism of lexical innovation in modern language use. Focusing on their structural, semantic, and pragmatic characteristics, the study analyzes how such formations emerge and function across diverse communicative contexts. Particular attention is paid to the role of creative word-formation strategies and their interaction with sociocultural conditions shaping contemporary discourse. The research demonstrates that occasionalisms serve not only to name new or nuanced concepts but also to convey evaluation, individuality, and stylistic markedness. The findings highlight the significance of occasional lexical formations as indicators of ongoing linguistic change and as reflections of speakers’ creative engagement with language.