On the basis of the experimentally determined 26 prominent neutral neon (Ne I) line shapes (in the 3s‐3p, 3s‐3p′, 3s′‐3p′, 3s′‐3p and 3p‐3d transitions) the basic plasma parameters i.e. electron temperature (T) and electron density (N) have been obtained using the line deconvolution procedure, in a plasma created in a linear, low‐pressure, pulsed arc operated in pure neon. The mentioned plasma parameters have also been measured using independent experimental diagnostics techniques. Agreement has been found among the two sets of the obtained parameters. This recommends the deconvolution procedure for plasma diagnostical purposes. Self‐confidence of the method has checked using Ne I spectral lines which originate from different energy levels. The advance used of the method has been done in the way to find energy level from which it does not existing any more assumption of LTE.This method may be of interest also in astrophysics where direct measurements of the main plasma parameters (TandN) are not possible. With the development of space born spectroscopy the good quality spectra will be enabling to use this method. The separate electron (We) and ion (Wi) contributions to the total Stark width (Wt), which have not been measured so far, have also been obtained for neon spectral lines. The measured and calculatedWedata are compared to available theoreticalWevalues. It has found stronger influence of the ion contribution to the Ne I lines shape than the predicted ones calculated by the current theory. It has also tested the ion contribution to the Ne II lines shape. Small influence of the ion contribution to the some Ne II line shape has evidenced. © 2004 American Institute of Physics