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A nonce word or 'occasionalism' is a term created - often in the moment - with abstract and mixed meanings. Usually intended to be used 'just this once' (nonce), these words aren't part of general, mainstream practice, but could be incorporated and spread with time. For example, phelamanga is a nonce word from the South African song Scatterlings of Africa by Johnny Clegg and Juluka/Savuka. As the story goes, the word was created on the spot to fill a gap in the lyrics. It is a combination of two isiZulu words: PHELA (peh-luh) which means 'end, 'finished', 'entire', 'present', 'whole', and AMANGA (uh-mung-guh) which translates to 'lies'. Essentially, the end of lies, or the beginning of truth.
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