neovený

Neovený is a Czech neologism used in sociolinguistic and cultural discourse to describe people, groups, or practices that resist or postpone modernization, particularly the adoption of new technologies, organizational forms, or social norms associated with digitalization. The expression is chiefly found in contemporary Czech media and academic writing and does not have a fixed, universally accepted definition.

Etymology and form are debated. The word appears to combine a negating prefix ne- with a stem resembling adjectives ending in -ený, but its precise origin remains uncertain. Some commentators view neovený as a folk coinage that signals being “not modern” without asserting a value judgment, while others interpret it as a critical label used in public debate.

Usage and connotations. Neovený is typically employed descriptively to characterize attitudes or practices rather than to name a distinct social group. It can refer to individuals who prefer analog technologies and traditional crafts, communities with limited access to digital infrastructure, or organizations that deliberately maintain legacy processes. In journalism and scholarship, the term may carry neutral, sympathetic, or critical nuance depending on the author’s stance and context.

Variants include neovený člověk (a person who is not modernized), neovená kultura (unmodernized culture), and neovený průmysl (unmodernized industry). Because the term is relatively new and context-dependent, its precise scope and evaluative charge can vary across texts.

See also: Luddites, anti-modernization, digital divide, tradition.