unit 13 restriction, elevation and degradation of meaning
TRANSCRIPT
Unit 13
Restriction, Elevation and
Degradation of Meaning
Restriction of meaning means that a word ofwide meaning acquires a narrower, specialisedsense which is applicable to only one of theobjects it had previously denoted.
Restriction of Meaning
Examples
liquor
Old Meaning Specialized meaning
liquid alcoholic drink
example
meat
Old Meaning Specialized Meaning
food Flesh of animals
word Old meaning Specialization
disease discomfort illness
poison drink Poisonous drink
wife woman married woman
accident event unlucky event
girl A child A female child
word Old meaning Specialization
starve die Die of hunger
stink Any smell Bad smell
success Result a good result
corpse
a human oranimal body living or dead
a dead bodyesp. of a
human being
现代英语中把日常生活用语转用到科技方面,这也是词义缩小的一种现象。
A clean room 和 a white room 均为日常生活用语,现指用于精密零件制造的“绝尘室”
“A clean room” or “ a white room”,increasingly becomes shop talk.
清洁室或称白室正日益变成专家们的行话。
Elevation of Meaning
Words often rise from a humble beginning to a position of greater importance. This change is called elevation of meaning.
Pioneer: foot soldier who cleared the way for any army by falling trees, etc.
A person who goes before, preparing the way for others,
as a scientist doing exploratory work
Fond: foolish
Tender and affectionate
minister
• Old: an attendant
• New: a person at the head of a department of a state.
marshall
Originally:A horse tender
Present Meaning:Officer of highest rank
craftsman
Old: a person good at cheating
Now: a man who does a skilled job, usu,
with hands
shrewd
Old meaning:
wicked;
malicious
Now:keen-witted;clever or sharp in practical affairs
nimble
• Old meaning:
quick at stealing
• present meaning:
quick of comprehension
见 125 页
Elevation of Meaning
Degradation of meaning
Words with a commendatory meaning may become ones with a derogatory sense. This is called degradation of meaning or deterioration
Four Kinds of Degradation of Meaning
A. A word falls into disrepute because
of social prejudice
Example
Villain old meaning:a farmer
present Meaning:a man guilty of
evil deeds
clown
Old meaning: a peasant
present Meaning:a man who is clumsy and behaves stupidly
wench
• Old meaning:
a country girl
• present meaning:
a girl of loose character
boor
Old meaning:
a farmhand
present meaning:one who is rough, impolite and clumsy
churl
• Old meaning:
a farmhand
• present meaning:
one who is rude and unfriendly
B. A word becomes less respectable because of euphemism
Examples 见 127 页
C. Middle terms which are neutral in meaning and take on favorable or unfavorable meaning according to context
Examples 见 128 页
Fortune, is a middle term, because it may be either good or bad but the adjective fortunate has a positive value. So with the word luck. The word refers to good or bad luck, especially to good luck. But the adjective lucky only denotes “ having or bringing good luck”.
D. Sometimes a word shows deterioration in some of its uses, but maintain itself in others.
execute
To kill sb. as a lawful punishment
To carry out an order,a plan, a piece of work
4-2-3
Semantic Changes from the Literal Use of words to Their Figurative Use
1. Metaphor
We know that words are used in two ways: literally and figuratively. When used literally, they have their natural and usual meaning. When used figuratively, they have a suggested meaning.
!
A simile is a figure of speech which makes a comparison between two unlike elements, having at least one point of resemblance in appearance, quality, action or effect.
A metaphor, like a simile, also makes a comparison between two unlike elements, but unlike a simile, this comparison is implied rather than stated.
Metaphor?
There are three major groups of metaphors according to function and character:
A. Anthropomorphic metaphors
B. Animal metaphors
C. Synaesthetic metaphors
A. Anthropomorphic metaphors
Many inanimate objects are compared to the parts of the human body.
the eye of a needle 针眼
the eye of a potato 马铃薯的芽眼
the eye of the hurricane 风眼
the eye of a flower 花心
the eye of a peacock’s tail 孔雀翎斑the eye of the revolution 革命中心
参见 p.32 for More Examples
B. Animal metaphors
A great many inanimate objects, including various instruments, machines and parts of machines are called after an animal.
Cat-o’-nine-tails; 九尾鞭;香蒲
Cat-ice:
thin ice unsupported by water 薄冰
Catmint or catnip 猫薄荷
Catlap: slops, tea, etc. 稀薄饮料
Another large group of animal names can be transferred into words indicating persons.
An ass: a stupid foolish person
A pig:a dirty, greedy or ill-mannered person
A mouse: a person, esp. A woman, who is quiet and timid
A goose: a silly person, esp. female
A cat: a nasty person
A rat: a low worthless disloyal man
A lion: a famous and important person
A fox: a person who deceives others by means of clever tricks
A tiger: a person like such an animal in fierceness, courage, etc.
An owl: a wise-looking dullard.
A mule: a stupid or obstinate person
A dark horse: a person whose abilities are hidden
A mule: a stupid or obstinate person
An ape: a person who copies the behaviour of others
A monkey: a child who is full of annoying playfulness and trick
A parrot: a person who repeats, often without understanding, the words or actions of another
C. Synaesthetic metaphors
They are metaphors used to refer to direct association between the form and the meaning of language. This type of metaphor is based on the similarity of two things.
warm or cold temperature
warm or cold voice
loud music
loud colours
sweet tea
sweet sound or music
piercing wind
piercing sound
a grave face
grave news
a stormy day
a stormy quarrel
stony ground
a stony heart
dirty hand
a dirty night
A number of nouns, adjectives, or verbs in English can be used as metaphors.
1) The use of a Noun as a Metaphor:
A ray of hope
a grain of truth
a shadow of doubt
a flight of fancy
the fire of passion
2) the use of an adjective as a metaphor
Bitter enemy
murderous heat
iron courage
3) the use of a verb as a metaphor:
Time flies.
Time presses.
He bridles his anger.