The use of neofeminitives in scientific and business Ukrainian language

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problems of functioning of linguistic innovations that arose
after the introduction of the new version of the Ukrainian spelling (2019). These
innovations relate to the creation and use of feminine nouns to denote the names of
female persons in accordance with those professions, positions, occupations, etc. that in
the Ukrainian language were previously traditionally denoted exclusively by masculine
nouns (masculinatives). The authors investigate the problem of the peculiarities of the
functioning of the above-mentioned linguistic innovations in the scientific and formal
business styles in connection with the defining features of these styles. The relevance of
the study is determined, firstly, by the lack of clear grammatical norms in Ukrainian
linguistics regarding the formation of the corresponding feminine nouns in general and
their use in certain styles in particular, and, secondly, by the significant public outcry that
has arisen in connection with this situation
The authors analyze the scientific debate that has been going on since the introduction
of the new version of the Ukrainian spelling around the issue of feminitives. They
consider it expedient to distinguish terminologically between traditional feminitives,
which have long been used in the Ukrainian language, and linguistic innovations, to
which the term neofeminitives is used in the article.
The authors draw attention to the fact that the use of neofeminitives in scientific and
formal business styles is more problematic than in some other styles, including
colloquial, literary and artistic, and journalistic. The problems of using neofeminitives in
scientific and formal business styles are related to the specific features of these styles,
which require unambiguous use of words, stable terminological phrases, use of words
only in their direct meaning, and adherence to the culture of business communication.
The authors provide additional arguments in favor of the fact that scientific and formal
business styles remain more conservative in terms of the use of neofeminitives.
Based on the analysis of feminitive dictionaries, regulatory documents, and other
sources, it is recommended to refrain from using neofeminitives terms until they are
clearly stated in legal documents. This problem in the Ukrainian language still requires
close attention and coordinated work of scholars in various fields.