1. INTRODUCTION

Let’s take a look at how we go about making up new words. This can be done through a number of actions you probably already know about, though you may not have been through about them as procedures. You’ll probably recognise these and also maybe remember that we all play with words, as children, in conversation and in design brand names, finding a word to fit a situation or to remember to use effectively in the future. We all have language, we all use it daily and we know embedded grammatical rules in our first or home languages.

ACTIVITY #1: WAYS TO MAKE NEOLOGISMS

So let’s try to make this a little more explicit by looking at six ways we can make up new words.

1. What do you think happens when we perform each of the following words to make new ones?
JOIN
MIX
TRIM
LOAN
SWITCH
CAPITALISE

2. Write your answer in a short sentence or discuss this with a fellow student.

3. Compare your view with the list of HOW TO MAKE NEW WORDS below.

2. HOW TO MAKE NEW WORDS

We use the general actions listed below to make new words.

ACTIVITY # 2: ACTIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS

1. Study the NEOLOGISER, paying attention to the DESCRIPTION of each ACTION.

2. Cover the DESCRIPTION column and see if you can recall what was listed for each ACTION item.

3. Uncover the column and reread each DESCRIPTION.

ACTIVITY #3: SHAPING NEW TERMS FOR FUTURES DESIGN

1. Use the ACTIONS above to generate terms that embody or capture aspects of work with design and futures.
2. Try to come up with 5 terms. Add your name to your term.
3. List the terms and add a one line definition for each term.

3. COMPARING NEW TERMS

Let’s now look at what you have devised.

ACTIVITY #4: ASSEMBLING TERMS

1. In a whole group (small) or several different groups present and discuss the terms and definitions you have generated.

2. Are there any of the terms others have made that you could a) improve b) use.

4. CONTRIBUTING TO A FUTURES DESIGN VOCABULARY

This LEXICON is not only a list of words and definitions. It is also an activity of making a vocabulary for FUTURES design and design futures literacies. You can contribute to this as the next activity outlines.

ACTIVITY #5: SHAPING NEW WORDS FOR FUTURES DESIGN

1. Return to the words you ‘invented’. How do they seem to you now?

2. What description would you give to these words now?

3. Upload your terms here.

4. Your contribution will be added to a collection of items from other users of the LEXICON in a resource called SURPRISING WORDS FOR THE FUTURE (Words only).

5. You can continue to generate and upload new words and their descriptions after completing this unit.

Olavarrieta, C., Glenn, J. & Gordon, T. (2014). (Eds.). Futures: World Foresight Encyclopedic Dictionary. Washington D.C.: The Millenium Project.

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