Neology against the clock: the Internet This paper is intended to look at the challenges faced by neology in terminology at the present time. I will do this by discussing various points which influence neology in the field of the Internet. Terms referring to the Internet are coined and spread at such speed and to such an extent that they have turned into a race against the clock in different languages. The formation of new terms goes on at a dizzy speed, parallel to technological advances and innovations in the field of computer science and telecommunications in general. This is common in all scientific and technological progress, and therefore characteristic of neology in terminology, but the specific nature of this area confers particular features on neology which must be taken into account. First of all the channel through which Internet terms are made known is the net itself. This means that they not only spread rapidly (information on the internet can be accessed almost immediately) but also reach vast areas (all over the world). Furthermore, terms can be compiled, discussed and assessed anywhere: many Web sites can be found which give glossaries of Internet terms or propose names and even invite users to vote on them. This leads us to the fundamental point: Internet terminology extends beyond the bounds of its specialist field (which by definition is part of the lexicon of science and technology) and breaks into general language. It is used both by a wide variety of net users (from any or no specialist fields) and by people who read the press or follow the media. What type of terminology is being created? What lexical creation systems predominate? There is a common denominator in all languages: terms are generated in English and come in as loanwords. How do the receiving languages respond to this? How do they deal with Internet terminology? Are all those words which seem to be terms actually terms? Do they meet actual needs for names or do sensationalist, ephemeral terms abound?