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This question arose from another question I asked on the English Language & Usage Stack: "Is there a specific name for that singular exhalation laugh that happens when you read something only slightly funny?" The answers given on that question lead me to believe that there is currently no word that fits precisely with the action I am describing. So, this led me to wonder, is it better to create an entirely new word, or simply add a new connotation to an existing word, or does it even matter?

For an answer, I would PREFER some type of research that tested people's responses to new words and/or connotations. Alternatively, any explanation by any type of authority in writing, whether a distinguished academic and/or author will do. If this cannot be done, opinions by any writing academic or published author will work. I would like to avoid answers that are the mere opinions of the answerer, unless you also fit one of the previous descriptions.

I suspect that it does not really matter. In either case, you will have to provide clear context clues, or explicit definitions the first time the new word or connotation is used, so the words will have the same function regardless, but I would like to know if there is any established thought on the matter.

As for what I have done to answer this question, I first tried several different searches on Google Scholar, but I think there is something wrong with the vocabulary I am using, because nothing relevant comes up. When I try Googling various related phrases, the only things that come up are (1) articles explaining what connotation is, (2) articles explaining various methods for how to create words, or similarly, (3) articles explaining how new words are created. For an example of the first, Google virtually any short phrase with the word connotation in it, apparently it is not a well- known word. For the second, see this WikiHow. For the third, this Guardian article is the best example. None of these examples (or the several dozens of others I checked) answer the question as to whether its better to create a new word or a new connotation.

Curious Layman
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It is better not to create either.

He let out a single huff, half amused.

Use the language as is. Invented words are for invented things that need names. Invented towns, invented religions, invented machines like a "warp drive".

If you were talking about an invented alien species that showed this behavior, I could understand.

I would reject writing that just invents new English words because they cannot express themselves in plain English.

It is important to understand that people that read for entertainment do not mind reading. They aren't trying to save time or get through your story quickly. Use as many words as you need to convey what you want to say.

If there is no single word, then use ten. Or twenty, if you think it is important to capture this precise behavior.

Amadeus
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I endorse the answer by Amadeus. The following are some additional thoughts on why his answer is the correct one.

You are looking for research on a writing technique that does not exist. Writers do not create neologisms to express meanings for which we have no words, therefore there is no research on it.

With rare exceptions (all of which fall in the realm of experimental writing) writers use the language as it is. The reason for this is simple. When you create a neologism or use an existing word with a new meaning, your readers cannot understand what you want to say.

Here is an example:

Reading the newspaper, John fnuffed.

What does that sentence mean? From the context of your question you might assume that fnuff means "that singular exhalation laugh that happens when you read something only slightly funny", but in fact I meant that John rubbed the corner of his eye with his middle finger to remove rheum.

My example also shows the absurdity of your approach. There are an indefinite number of common everyday activities and occurrences for which we have no single word. There is no word for turning your head to the side; there is no word for leaving your socks on during sex; there is not word for not eating all the fried potatoes you piled onto your plate; there is not word for brushing the inside of your teeth first; etc.

I hope you begin to see that it is not only common but inevitable and ubiquitous that we express a single concept using many words.

Ben
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