7 changes in word meaning. vocabulary: 1.most unstable element of a language 2.undergoing constant...

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