现代英语词汇学概论chapter9.pptVIP

* Chapter IX CHANGES IN WORD MEANING Overview Causes of changes in word meaning Tendencies in semantic change * An overview of semantic changes Vocabulary is the most unstable element of a language as it is undergoing constant changes both in form and content. Comparatively speaking, the content is even more unstable than the form. Changing in word meaning has never ceased since the language came into being and will continue in the future. The change of word-meaning is fundamental in a living language. * Causes of Change in word meaning Linguistic causes Ellipsis Borrowing Analogy Figurative use of words Metaphor Metonymy Extra-linguistic causes Historical reason Social reason Psychological reason * Linguistic causes Ellipsis The meaning of a word may change when a phrase is shortened to one word which retains the meaning of the whole. This is called ellipsis. gold: gold medal daily: daily newspaper The meaning of the word “gold” has changed from material to refer to the whole phrase “gold medal”. This kind of change often occurs in habitual collocations. * Borrowing The influx (流入) of borrowings has caused some words to change in meaning. deer (original) a wild animal of any sort from a lion to a mouse. In Middle Ages, the French word beste (=beast) became the general word. In 16th century, the Latin word animal was also adopted into the English vocabulary. Today deer can only refer to a particular kind of animal. * Analogy If an adjective develops a new meaning, the derived noun from the adjective will have a corresponding new meaning by analogy. The process can be applied to a word of any word class. Diplomatic (original) skillful in dealing with international relations (present) skillful in dealing with any kind of relations Diplomatic: Diplomacy Diplomacy (original) the art of dealing with international relations (present) ??? art of or skill in dealing with people Analogy * Figurative use of words The figurative use refers to the exp