How novel are low-frequency words?

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between low-frequency lexical forms and lexical innovation by examining infrequent and non-lexicalised adjectives formed with the suffix -able (e.g., jokeable, trickable). Employing a corpusbased analysis of the 20-billion-word News on the Web (NOW) corpus (2010–2025), we identified over 800 infrequent Xable adjectives. After filtering for orthographical errors, brand names, and incorrect forms, a dataset of novel lexical items was isolated using the OED for evidence of attestation. Morphological patterns and usage contexts were analysed, highlighting factors such as (1) frequency distribution over 2010–2025, (2) geographical coverage, (3) contextual anchoring in the collocate environment, and 4) base form and derivative co-occurrence. Findings contribute insights into lexical innovation, morphological productivity, and the stages of lexical integration from a dynamic usage-based perspective (Schmid 2020).