Media neophraseologisms as a marker of transformational and innovative processes in the Russian phraseological system

Abstract

This article is devoted to a comprehensive study of media neophraseologisms as relevant markers of transformation processes in the modern Russian phraseological system. Using extensive empirical data from the Russian-language online press and Telegram channels for 2020–2026, the article identifies key derivational trends in neophraseology: structural diffuseness, pragmemization, and sententialization of signs. We demonstrate a semantic shift in neoidioms toward de-abstraction and connection to the current agenda and substantiate the adaptive nature of phraseological innovations in the context of an increasingly complex information picture of the world. Particular attention is paid to the anthropocentric aspect of linguistic creativity: The generation of neophraseologisms, mediated by the mechanisms of irony, allusion, and manipulation, is verified as a demarcation line between the natural human text generation and the algorithms of generative artificial intelligence. We propose a typology of neophraseologisms, including discursive-precedent, intermedia, and calqued units, including their axiological and ludic functions in media texts. The article notes that the diffuseness of structure and pragmemization act as mechanisms of linguistic economy, while the de-abstraction of signs reflects the connection between phraseology and extralinguistic factors. The results are significant for lexicographic practice, university teaching, and media stylistics. The developed typology and the identified derivational processes can serve as a basis for monitoring the Russian phraseological system evolution. The results of the study are applicable in lexicographic practice, teaching, and media stylistics.