Derivative terms with the meaning of new social strata in English and Russian sociological discourse

In periods of social transformation, the analysis of neologisms introduced into academic discourse to denote societal strata possesses a particular linguistic and interdisciplinary significance. The article’s objective is twofold: firstly, to describe the cognitive-derivational models underlying the formation of the most recent sociological terms (cognitariat, salariat, precariat); and, secondly, to identify their functional idiosyncrasies within English and Russian sociological discourse. The data set, comprising 1950 microtexts of usage examples, was derived from sociological works by British, American, and Russian scholars, as well as frompublicly accessible internet sources. A comprehensive analysis was conducted, encompassing definitional, etymological, cognitivederivational, contextual and functional-semantic methodologies. The study revealed that two primary models underpinning these naming processes: affixation, inherent in the formation of salariat and precariat, and blending, characteristic of cognitariat. The choice of relevant onomasiological features plays a decisive role in successful term formation. Denotative features that indicate thе type of activity or the source of income (cognitive → cognitariat; salary → salariat) ensure terminological unambiguity and transparency of internal form. Conversely, incorporating the subjective characteristic of instability (precarious → precariat) introduces ambiguity in semantic volume and referential boundaries, justifying its interpretation as an artificial analytical construct. A close examination of the terms’ functioning in English and Russian discourse highlights distinct correlations with social groups and ethno-cultural perceptions. Western sociologists frame the precariat as a potential trigger for social conflict, whereas Russian scholars perceive this stratum as analogous to the middle class and a guarantor of socio-economic stability. The study contributes to the theory of terminology within the framework of cognitive-derivational modelling of sociological terms. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.