Définition et Signification de "blocking"

What is "blocking"?

Blocking is a linguistic phenomenon that occurs when a more specific or established word prevents the creation or use of a new word or form. This often happens when speakers are already familiar with an existing term, which makes them less likely to adopt a newly proposed alternative. For example, if the word "telephone" is well-known, a speaker may not feel the need to use a newly coined term like "telephonic" to describe the same concept. Blocking can also occur in morphology, where the existence of a certain inflected form may inhibit the formation of another. This process highlights how language evolves and how familiarity with certain terms influences word usage and development.