Chapter One概要1.doc

Chapter I Guess sight, site, cite; vain, vein, vane love all, play; Which part of the clock is always old? 猩猩最讨厌什么线？ Madam, I’m Adam. No X in Nixon. 上海自来水来自海上。 Main Contents 1. Definition of lexicology 2. Definition of word 3. The development of English vocabulary A. English vocabulary as viewed in the historical perspective B. The rapid growth of present-day English vocabulary 4. Classification of English words according to different criteria 1. What is lexicology The literal meaning of lexicology is the “science of the word”. It is a branch of linguistics dealing with the vocabulary of a given language ( the study of the signification and application of words). Briefly speaking, lexicology deals with words. 2. What is a word Two often quoted definitions for “word”: 1). A word is a minimum free form （最小自由形式）.(Bloomfield 1933: 177-178) Bound forms and Free forms: Bound forms（黏附形式）---genuine linguistic forms which convey a meaning, occur only in construction, as part of a larger form and are never used as sentences. e.g. –ess in countess, lioness etc., or the –ish in boyish, childish etc., or the –s in hats, books, cups etc. Free forms---linguistic forms which consist entirely of two or more lesser free forms and occur as sentences. e.g. poor John or John ran away or yes, sir, is a phrase. A free form which is not a phrase, is a word. Bloomfield’s definition emphasizes syntax and does not touch upon meaning, which is a crucial aspect of any “word”. 2). A word is defined by the association of a given sense with a given group of sounds capable of a given grammatical use. (Antoine Meillet) This definition shows a combination of meaning and sound with special emphasis on grammatical use. It is a useful definition but does not include the concept of word as the minimal free form. Therefore, a word may be defined as: A fundamental unit of speech and a minimum free form; with a unity of sound and meaning (both lexic