English-Lexicology-(IV)

EnglishLexicology(IV)Englishlexicology(III)2Contents10.ChangesinMeaning11.AmericanEnglishTobecontinuedEnglishlexicology(III)3Vocabularyisthemostunstableelementofalanguageasitisundergoingconstantchangesbothinformandcontent.Comparatively,thecontentisevenmoreunstablethantheform.Thischapterwilldealwiththemajorpatternsthatchangesinmeaningfollowandthecausesofchanges.Englishlexicology(III)410.1TypesofchangesExtension/GeneralizationladyEconomyOrientationinfluenceholidayssloganSceneEnglishlexicology(III)510.1TypesofchangesNarrowing/SpecializationDeergirlgarageliquorinstantreplyEnglishlexicology(III)610.1TypesofchangesElevation/AmeliorationSth.Low,humble,unpleasant------sth.Noble,agreeable,pleasantMarshallShrewdAngelMinisterEnglishlexicology(III)710.1TypesofchangesDegradation/DegenerationSillyVillain,boor,churlCunningEnglishlexicology(III)810.1TypesofchangesDegradation/DegenerationIntensifiersterrific,fantastic,marvelous,splendid,magnificent,wonderful,superb,tremendous,overpowering,fabulous……horrible,outrageous,awful,dreadful….WeakeningofmeaningofintensifiersEnglishlexicology(III)910.1TypesofchangesTransferenceSubjectivenessandobjectivenessHeisdoubtfulofsuccess.Thefuturelooksdoubtful.…anhonourablegentleman…anhonourableinvitationEnglishlexicology(III)1010.1TypesofchangesTransferencesubjectivenessobjectivenesshateful:ahatefuljob,ahatefulcrimepainful:apainfulexperience,apainfultaskpompouslanguage/style/mannerapompousmansolemnmusic/oath/dutyasolemnjudgeEnglishlexicology(III)1110.1TypesofchangesTransferenceSubjectivenessandobjectivenessdependonthecollocationasuspiciouscharacter/truth/conditionasuspiciouslook/glance/attitudeadubiousansweradubiouslookEnglishlexicology(III)1210.1TypesofchangesTransferenceSubjectObjectrespectfulrespectableimaginativeimaginaryunexpressiveinexpressiblecontemptuouscontemptibleEnglishlexicology(III)1310.2CausesofchangesSocialdevelopmentPenManuscriptStrawAtomComputerEnglishlexicology(III)1410.2CausesofchangesClassreasonLanguageisjustlikeamirror,reflectingeverythingthatexistsinhumansociety.Naturally,itrecordsthespeechandattitudeofdifferentsocialclass.Villain,clown,churlDemocracy,revolution,liberalism,communism,landlord,tradeunionEnglishlexicology(III)1510.2CausesofchangesNationalPsychologySomewordsorexpressionsshowsthenationalpsychology,especiallyafeelingofdislike,contempt,ironytowardsothernationalities.TotakeFrenchleaveSpanishathleteIrishbullTotalkDutch,Dutchcomfort,Dutchbargain,inDutchAnAmericanwillgotohellforabagofcoffee.Englishlexicology(III)1610.2CausesofchangesRacialdiscriminationorprejudicesBlackBlackPower,Blackisbeautiful,BlackEnglish,BlackhistoryNegroAfricanAmericans,Afro-AmericansNativeAmericans(Indians)Englishlexicology(III)1710.2CausesofchangesSexismMan:chairman,salesman,spaceman…Poet-poetess,hero-heroine,student-girlstudent,novelist-ladynovelist,doctor-womandoctor,president-femalepresident…Chairperson,businessperson,draftsperson..Englishlexicology(III)1810.2CausesofchangesSocialvaluesEuphemism:Thesubstitutionofamild,indirect,orvagueexpressionforonethatmaybeoffensive,disagreeable,harsh,orblunt.Englishlexicology(III)1910.2CausesofchangesSocialvaluesgarbagecollector------sanitationengineergardener-----landscapearchitectservant----domesticengineerhairdresser---beauticianoldpeople----seniorcitizens,maturepeople,pensionerwar----conflictEnglishlexicology(III)2010.2CausesofchangesSocialvaluesthepoorpeople----thedisadvantage,theunderprivileged“IusedtothinkIwaspoor.ThentheytoldmeIwasn’tpoor,Iwasneedy,Iwasdeprived.Thentheytoldmeunderprivilegedwasoverused.Iwasdisadvantaged.Istilldon’thaveadime.ButIhaveagreatvocabulary.”Englishlexicology(III)2110.2CausesofchangesLinguisticfactorsBorrowingpig,cow,sheep-----pork,beef,muttondeer-----animal,beastEnglishlexicology(III)2210.2CausesofchangesLinguisticfactorsSimplifyingasamatterofcourse-----ofcourseaboveallthings-----aboveallGodgivesyouagoodmorning---Goodmorningprivatesoldier----privategeneralofficer----generalperiodicalpaper----periodicalfallofleaves----fallChapter11AmericanEnglishEnglishlexicology(III)24Inthischapter,weaimtounderstandthecharacteristicsofAmericanEnglish,todistinguishthedifferencesbetweenAmericanEnglishandBritishEnglish.Itisalaboriousjob,whileitisimportantthatAmericanEnglishbeaddressedinEnglishlearning.AmericanEnglishorBritishEnglish?Englishlexicology(III)25QuestionsWhatisAmericanEnglish?IsitAmericanEnglishorBritishEnglishwearespeakingasnon-nativespeakers?IsthereessentialdifferencebetweenBritishEnglishandAmericanEnglish?Whatarethemajordifferencesbetweenthem?Asnon-nativespeakers,whatisthesignificanceforustodistinguishthedifferencesbetweenthem?Englishlexicology(III)2611.1EnglishasaninternationallanguageUsersofEnglishEnglishasanativelanguage:Britain,theUnitedStates,Ireland,Australia,NewZealand,Canada,theWestIndiesandSouthAfrica.ESL:India,Pakistan,Nigeria,Kenya,andmanyothercountries.EFL:Largenumbersofpeopleintheworldspeakandwrite