FROM BREXIT TO MEGXIT - LEAVING BRITAIN IN (ROYAL) STYLE

When a certain expression appears in the media and becomes popular, new expressions copying its sound patterns are formed. This way, the new coinages are associated with the initial expression and acquire something of its meaning.The paper deals with the neologisms based on the name of the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle. These neologisms were formed in relation with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decision to leave their duties as royalties. The most frequently used such neologism, Megxit is defined by the Macmillan dictionary as “a humorous term for the decision of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step back from their royal duties” (https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/megxit). In its turn, it produced other neologisms derived from it.The structure of Megxit is based on the pattern of the neologism Brexit (Britain + exit), standing for “the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union” (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/brexit). It is formed by blending the personal name Meghan and the verb exit. After The new coinage Megxit became relatively well established, it led to other neologisms related to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ withdrawal from their royal duties. Some of them are derived from Megxit, such as Megxitee, Mexiteer, Megxiter, while other are a combination from the personal name Meghan and another suffix (Megulators, Meghangate). The neologism Megxit appeared as a noun, but later it started being used as a verb. It can be used attributively in some cases. Megxit is not only formed in the same way Brexit was formed, but it is also often used in phrases Brexit is used in. The parallel between the two neologisms is probably due to the extralinguistic context they appear in. Extralinguistic factors are studied by Terzieva [2016]. As she has stated, in the process of integrating new ideas in some area, concepts from another area are borrowed.”33 [Terzieva 2016:272-273]. In the case of Megxit, two extralinguistic factors are observed- temporal and geographical. First, both events, UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ withdrawal from their royal duties took place close in time, with a period of overlapping. Second, the two events, or rather phenomena, are related to the same geographical region- the United Kingdom. Third, both Megxit and Brexit refer to some leaving- with Megxit, the meaning is “someone (Meghan and Harry) leaves the UK”, while with Brexit the meaning is “Britain leaves something else (the European Union)”.Megxit is a name-based neologism. It is formed by blending the first name Meghan and the noun exit. According to Fowler, first names in the media can be used to promote “feelings of identification, empathy or disapproval” or to effect “a metonymic simplification of complex historical or institutional narrative” [Fowler 1993: 15]. In reference to the Duchess of Sussex, the first name Meghan is used to create a feeling of identification and to make the referent of the name more approachable. Royalties are typically addressed and referred to by their first names. Their first names are preceded by the corresponding title: prince, princess, queen, king. However, sometimes the media produce articles in which members of the royal family are mentioned only with their first names without the corresponding title. Moreover, Meghan Markle was a celebrity before her marriage to Prince Harry and being referred to by using her first name even without a title in front of it is not felt awkward.