现代英语词汇学概论9 Changes in Word Meaning.ppt

1、7,Changes in Word Meaning,BACK,Changes in Word Meaning,Vocabulary: 1.most unstable element of a language 2.undergoing constant changes both in form and content 3.Comparatively, meaning even more unstable,Changes in Word Meaning,Quirk :.almost every word we use today has a slightly different meaning

2、from the one it had a century ago, and a century ago it had a slightly different meaning from the one it had a century before that .,Changes in Word Meaning,Shakespeares use: The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste rival = partner Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour jump = just,Changes

3、 in Word Meaning,How pregnant sometimes his replies are pregnant = meaningful,7.1 Types of Change 1. Extension,extension= generation: change from a specific meaning to a more general one,1. Extension,manuscript = hand + writing 1) first draft written by hand 2) writing by any means,1. Extension,lady

4、1) mistress 2) woman e.g.saleslady; lady novelist; ladies room=ladies salary: money given to Roman soldiers to buy salt,1. Extension,Holiday:1) Holy Day 2) any day or days without work or study,1. Extension,Technical terms used as common words: feedback (computer) = response allergic (medicine) = av

5、erse to anything,2. Narrowing,Narrowing= specialization: change from a general meaning to a specific meaning wife woman a married woman e.g. The Merry Wives of Winsor 温莎的风流娘儿们 housewife; midwife,2. Narrowing,actor doer memory memory in computer shroud cloth cloth for wrapping the corpse a private =

6、a private soldier a gold= a gold medal,3. Elevation,elevation=amelioration: change from negative to positive from derogatory to appreciative from neutral to appreciative from unimportant to important,3. Elevation,governorpilot head of a state ministerservant head of a ministry lordloaf giver,16,Exam

7、ples:,4. Degradation,degradation=pejoration: change from appreciative to pejorative from positive to negative from important to unimportant from neutral to negative,4. Degradation,criticizeappraise find fault with villain worker at a villa wicked person/ scoundrel cunningskillful sly queenhomosexual

8、 wife,5. Transfer/transference,Transfer = transference: meaning shift from one thing to another,5. Transfer/transference,Types of Transfer 1. Associated transfer the meaning is transferred through association to dog追踪 to monkey戏弄,5. Transfer/transference,to ape模仿 to fox欺骗 the teeth of a comb 梳齿 the

9、tongues of fire 火舌 teeth and tongues semantically motivated,5. Transfer/transference,2. Transfer between abstract and concrete meaning aftermath second crop of grass after mowing (concrete) result or consequence (abstract),5. Transfer/transference,envy feeling of such (abstract) a person to be envie

10、d (concrete) e.g. Mary is the envy of the class. (concrete),5. Transfer/transference,3. Transfer between subjective and objective meaning The old man is hateful. The old man is hated by people. The old man receives hate. (objective),5. Transfer/transference,The teacher was suspicious of the students

11、 excuse. The teacher suspected the students excuse. (subjective),5. Transfer/transference,Characteristics of verbs: subjective:having showing full of objective:causing deserving bringing,5. Transfer/transference,painfulobjective consideratesubjective respectableobjective respectfulsubjective,5. Tran

12、sfer/transference,courageoussubjective dangerousobjective suspicioussubjective/objective fearfulsubjective/objective doubtfulsubjective/objective,5. Transfer/transference,The man looks suspicious as his behavior is unusual. (objective) The neighbours are suspicious of the man as his behaviour is unu

13、sual. (subjective),5. Transfer/transference,The teacher was doubtful1 of the doubtful2 excuse of the student. (1) subjective (2) objective,5. Transfer/transference,4. Synesthesia a transfer of sensation from sense to another sense clear-soundingfrom sight to hearing loud coloursfrom hearing to sight

14、 sweet musicfrom taste to hearing,7.2 Causes of Changes7.2.1 Extra-linguistic Factors,1. Historical reason sun the luminous heavenly bodyone of the seven planets revolving around the earth The sun rises and sets.,7.2.1 Extra-linguistic Factors,a star around which the earth and other planets revolve.

15、 (WNWD) atom from atomos (Greek) any of the indivisible particles,7.2.1 Extra-linguistic Factors,2. Class reason churl peasant free man uncultivated or mean person hussy housewife woman of low morals wench country girl prostitute,7.2.1 Extra-linguistic Factors,3. Psychological reason garbage collect

16、or sanitation engineer barber beautician policeman custodian of law poor people the unprivileged,7.2.1 Extra-linguistic Factors,dog informer arse despised prisoner square-head honest man,7.2.2 Linguistic Factors,1. Shortening gold gold medal bulb light bulb,7.2.2 Linguistic Factors,2. Borrowing deer narrowed from animal animal (L) ke