Both word-formation (WF) and the coinage of multi-word expressions (MWE) can be characterised in terms of creativity and routine. Routine in word-formation and multi-word expressions is traditionally described in terms of morphological, lexical, syntactic, and pragmatic rules, but creativity is defined in different ways, with definitions ranging from seeing creativity at the heart of human (linguistic) cognition to seeing creativity as precisely beyond regular routines, e.g. as an attention-seeking tool or wordplay. In this latter sense, creativity is usually sharply distinguished from productivity, i.e. rule-governed behaviour. Despite these categorisations, the question on what basis patterns are to be defined as creative still remains subject to debate. Futhermore, creativity and routine are often studied independently of each other, by different research communities. The volume aims to bring together these different research communities to discuss empirical evidence on the role of creativity and routinization in WF and MWEs.
