Neologisms in the Diplomatic Discourse of Romance-Language Countries: Semantic Shifts, Translation and English Adaptations

Abstract

The study arises from the increasing role of English as the dominant language of international diplomacy and the growing presence of neologisms of Romance origin in diplomatic communication. Previous linguistic research has examined the adaptation of foreign terms in English, but little attention has been given to the specific influence of Italian, French, and Spanish, including the Rioplatense Spanish variant, on the formation of new diplomatic vocabulary. This gap prompts a focused investigation into how such lexemes are borrowed, reinterpreted, and semantically adapted in international, intercultural, or cross-cultural communication. This research aims to analyze the semantic transformation of neologisms derived from Romance languages in English diplomatic texts and to trace how their meanings evolve in connection with broader political, regional, and intercultural dynamics. The study uses qualitative semantic analysis of a selected corpus of over 100 authentic, publicly accessible international documents issued by diplomatic bodies, multilateral organizations, and foreign ministries between 2020 and 2025. The findings reveal a pattern of semantic narrowing and contextual shift in Romance-derived terms once integrated into English diplomatic discourse. These lexical units often lose part of their original cultural and pragmatic meanings while gaining new, function-specific connotations relevant to international cooperation, negotiation, and institutional discourse. Moreover, certain neologisms show varied interpretations depending on the linguistic and cultural background of the users, occasionally leading to asymmetries in mutual understanding. The study concludes that Romance-based neologisms play a key role in shaping modern diplomatic English. Their use reflects ongoing processes of linguistic globalization and intercultural negotiation. These findings may help improve understanding of neologisms and ways of lexis enrichment, refine translation practices, terminological databases, and educational programs.