Criss-Cross Through the Coinages in Bina Štampe Žmavc’s Literature for Young Readers

In her works, Bina Štampe Žmavc demonstrates a unique approach to word-formational processes, often crafting new coinages to engage young readers with her diverse collection of poetry, prose, and drama. Her method involves systemic word-formational patterns, yet she infuses them with unconventional word-formational morphemes. These coinages, which we can refer to as potential words, are context-specific and do not necessarily aim for widespread acceptance (Stramljič Breznik 2010: 148). This paper delves into the most prevalent word-formational processes she employs, showcasing how she breathes life into new words, drawing from the coinages in her literary works for young readers. In a 2018 interview, when she was awarded the Gold Coin of Poetry (zlatnik poezije), she used the following verses from her poem: "I draw with words, not chalk because I don't know how to draw with chalk. Nor do I know how to draw with colors. That's why I breathe a word into the palm of my hand..."