Article / A System for Word Usage Change Detection: Its Use in Linguistic and Sociolinguistic Studies

The latest issue of the journal Prispevki za novejšo zgodovino (LXV – 3/2025) features an article entitled “A SYSTEM FOR WORD USAGE CHANGE DETECTION: ITS USE IN LINGUISTIC AND SOCIOLINGUISTIC STUDIES“. Mojca Brglez, Veronika Bajt, Senja Pollak, Špela Rot and Matej Martinc present the first online system for detecting changes in word usage in Slovenian, which enables the analysis of linguistic shifts over time. The article places particular emphasis on the sociolinguistic analysis of discourse on migration, where research shows how key events – from the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 to the “refugee crisis” 2015–2016 – have influenced the use of words. The analysis indicates a shift from neutral meanings to contexts that reflect the polarisation of public discourse, which is linked to issues of identity, culture and security.