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7
Changes in Word Meaning
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 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
Shakespeare’s use: The rivals of my watch, bid them
make haste… rival = partner Thus twice before, and jump at
this dead hour… jump = just
Changes in Word Meaning
How pregnant sometimes his replies are…
pregnant = meaningful
7.1 Types of Change 1. Extension
extension= generalization: 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
lady1) 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) = averse to
anything
2. Narrowing
Narrowing= specialization: change from a general meaning to a s
pecific 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 = 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
governor pilot head of a state minister servant head of a ministry lord loaf giver
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 cunning skillful sly queen homosexual 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 tongues of fire 火舌 teeth and tongues semantically moti
vated
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 envied
(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 student’s excuse.
The teacher suspected the student’s excuse. (subjective)
5. Transfer/transference
Characteristics of verbs: subjective: having showing full of objective: causing deserving bringing
5. Transfer/transference
painful objective considerate subjective respectable objective respectful subjective
5. Transfer/transference
courageous subjective dangerous objective suspicious subjective/objective fearful subjective/objective doubtful subjective/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 unusual. (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 an
other sense clear-sounding from sight to hearing loud colours from hearing to sight sweet music from taste to hearing
7.2 Causes of Changes7.2.1 Extra-linguistic Factors
1. Historical reason sun the luminous heavenly body—
one 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... (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 collector 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 ‘anim
al’ animal (L) keeping the same
meaning beast (F) changed in colour pig/pork
sheep/mutton
cattle/beef
7.2.2 Linguistic Factors
3. Analogizing fruition (1) a pleasure obtained from
using or possessing something
(2) the bearing of fruit (visual similarity and association)
END