语义的演变第五讲.pptVIP

词义的演变change of meaning Presented by: LI Huifeng Teaching Objectives Let students understand and master types of changes in word meaning and know the causes of changes Teaching focus Causes of changes Types of changes: extension, narrowing, degradation, elevation transference of meaning, euphemism. Extra-linguistic factors: historical reason, class reason, psychological reason Linguistic factors: shortening, redivision from borrowing, analogy Vocabulary is the most unstable element of a language as it is undergoing constant changes both in form and content. Comparatively, the content is even more unstable than the form. This chapter will deal with the major patterns that changes in meaning follow and the causes of changes …almost every word we use today has a slightly different meaning from the one it had a century ago… (Quirk) Shakespeare is perhaps more difficult to understand than more recent writings because many of his words were used in different sense from what they have now in contemporary dictionaries. eg.: “the rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.” (partner) “How pregnant sometimes his replies are.” (meaningful) 1. Polysemy Definition: the same word may have two or more different meanings 1) Source of polysemy a. Shifts in application Words have a number of different aspects according to the context in which they are used. b. Specialization in a social milieu (背景) Polysemy often arises through a kind of verbal shorthand. For example, “action” means “legal action” for a lawyer; a military operation for a soldier. Namely, the same word may acquire a number of specialized senses, only one of which will be applicable in a given milieu. c. Figurative language A word can be given one or more figurative senses without losing its original meaning. For example, the bed of a river, a saddle in the mountains (based on metaphor). 2) Primary meaning derivative meaning Primary meaning refers to what a word originally meant and the derivat