STRUCTURAL AND SEMANTIC PECULIARITIES OF GERMAN VOCABULARY IN THE COMPUTER FIELD

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the structural and semantic peculiarities of the German vocabulary in the computer field on the basis of the communication of IT specialists, which has certain specific features. The analyzed lexical units were selected from the posts on the four forums for programmers (Java-Forum.org, Python-Forum.de, Entwickler-Forum.de, Spieleprogrammierer.de) with a time interval between 2008–2020. Due to dynamic innovation processes, computer vocabulary is rapidly updated and determines the development of the professional language of information technology as a sublanguage of the national German language. Modern computer vocabulary is divided into terms, professionalisms, jargon, and slang, which are characterized by constant change, the acquisition of new meaning, and the formation of new words formed in different ways. Computer professional language that is characterized by such typical features as clarity, informativeness, and structure, serves to meet the communicative needs of programmers. Due to the dynamics of IT development, the professional vocabulary of programmers is constantly updated and enriches the computer professional language, separating it from others by the specificity of its terms. The article deals with lexical units which are considered from the standpoint of their usage in the context, changes in meaning and method of word formation. Much attention is paid to neologisms and their belonging to certain thematic groups on semantic and grammatical features, the influence of internationalisms and anglicisms on the development of German computer language and stylistic features that are formed by word modification. Comparative, contextual-interpretive methods as well as the following analyzes were used to conduct the research: component – for the formation of thematic groups by semantic commonality, word-forming – for determination of the ways of word formation, distributive – for determination of the meaning of a word based on its context and compatibility with other units. The research has an interdisciplinary character and contributes to the development of German computer professional language aimed at programmers.