Neologism include "laser" (1960) from Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, "robotics" (1941), "agitprop" (1930). The term "neologism" is first attested in English in 1772, borrowed from French "néologisme" (1734). A proponent of a new word or doctrine may be called a neologist. Neologists might study cultural and ethnic vernacular. The term "neologism" has a broader meaning that includes not only "an entirely new lexical item" but also an existing word whose meaning has been altered. Sometimes, the latter process is called "semantic shifting", or "semantic extension". Neologisms are distinct from a person's "idiolect", one's unique patterns of vocabulary, grammar,
Sound amplification by stimulated emission of radiation operates at about 440 GHz, while the Caltech device operates in the megahertz range. According to a member of the Nottingham group, the two approaches are complementary and it should be possible to use one device or the other to create coherent phonons at any frequency in the megahertz to terahertz range. A significant result rises from the operating frequency of these devices. The differences between the two devices suggest that SASERs could be made to operate over a wide range of frequencies. Work on the SASER continues at the University of Nottingham, the "Lashkarev Institute of Semiconductor Physics" at