lecture7-Changes-in-Word-Meaning

ChangesinWordMeaningOverviewGeneralremarksTypesofsemanticchangeCausesofchangeinwordmeaningSemanticdevelopmentorchangeresultingfromthefigurativeuseofwords•Vocabularyisthemostunstableelementofalanguageasitisundergoingconstantchangesbothinformandcontent.Comparativelyspeaking,thecontentisevenmoreunstablethantheform.GeneralRemarks…almosteverywordweusetodayhasaslightlydifferentmeaningfromtheoneithadacenturyago…(Quirk)Shakespeareisperhapsmoredifficulttounderstandthanmorerecentwritingsbecausemanyofhiswordswereusedindifferentsensefromwhattheyhavenowincontemporarydictionaries.Eg.“therivalsofmywatch,bidthemmakehaste.”(partner)“Howpregnantsometimeshisrepliesare.”(meaningful)TypesofsemanticchangeGeneralization/ExtensionofmeaningSpecialization/RestrictionofmeaningElevation/AmeliorationofmeaningDegradation/DegenerationofmeaningExtensionofMeaningItisalsocalledwideningofmeaningorgeneralization.It’saprocessbywhichawordwhichoriginallyhadaspecializedmeaninghasnowbecomegeneralized.FourkindsofextensionFromspecifictogeneralFromconcretetoabstractFrompropernounstocommonnounsFromtechnicaltermstogeneralwordsFromspecifictogeneralExamplePicture:originally:apaintingordrawingThepresentmeaningaphotographacinematicpictureanx-raypictureaTVpicturearadio-telescopepictureanypictureMoreExamplesrubbishrubble(碎石）anythingworthlessFromtechnicaltermstogeneralwordsCountdown:thecountingaloudofnumbersinreverseorderbeforesth.happens,esp.beforeaspacecraftislaunched.emergencysituation十分危急的情况；行将摊牌的局面ThatwouldleadtoacountdowninCambodia.Feedback:itoccursinamachineorsystemwhenpartofthepower,soundorinformationproducedgoesbackintothemachineorsystem.Response:Thereaderfeedbackwasgenerallyfavorable.Fallout:theradiationthataffectsaplaceafteranuclearexplosion:放射性尘埃Consequence:HepredictedthatthefalloutfromWatergatewouldhitbothparties.FromConcretetoAbstractMatter:timber,thehardpartofatreealotofabstractmeanings:1)Theworldismadeofmatter.Substance(s)ofwhichthephysicalthingismade2)Thematterinyouressayisgood.Materialforthoughtorexpression3)ThisisamatterIknowlittleabout.Somethinginwhichattentionisgiven4)Itmadenomattertohimthathisbrotherlostallhismoney(importance).FrompropernounstocommonnounsantonomasiatheuseofapropernountoconveyageneralideaExamplesSandwich:Itnowdenotesapopularfastfood.ItoriginatesfromJohnMontague,FourthearlofSandwichin18th–century,England.Hewassofondofgamblingthatheoftenforgothismeals.Heoftenorderedslicesofbreadwiththickpiecesofroastbeefstuffedbetweenthembebroughttohimsohecouldeatwhileplaying.Later,peopleusedhisnametorefertoallsimilarfood.GreekMyth:akingpunishedforhismisdeedsbyhavingtostandinwaterthatrecedeswhenhetriestodrinkitandunderfruitthatmovesawayashereachesforit.TantalusTantalizeArgusGreekmyth:agiantwith100eyes.Afterhewaskilled,hiseyesweretransferredtothePeacock’stailArgus-eyed:keen-sighted;observantWehavedecideditisimpossibletocheatwhenthatArgus-eyedprofessorgivesanexamRestrictionofmeaningmeansthatawordofwidemeaningacquiresanarrower,specialisedsensewhichisapplicabletoonlyoneoftheobjectsithadpreviouslydenoted.RestrictionofMeaningliquorOldMeaningSpecializedmeaningliquidalcoholicdrinkmeatOldMeaningSpecializedMeaningfoodFleshofanimalswordOldmeaningSpecializationdiseasediscomfortillnesspoisondrinkPoisonousdrinkwifewomanmarriedwomanaccidenteventunluckyeventgirlAchildAfemalechild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。Acleanroom和awhiteroom均为日常生活用语，现指用于精密零件制造的“绝尘室”“Acleanroom”or“awhiteroom”,increasinglybecomesshoptalk.ElevationofMeaningWordsoftenrisefromahumblebeginningtoapositionofgreaterimportance.Thischangeiscalledelevationofmeaning.(SeeP98)Pioneer:footsoldierwhoclearedthewayforanyarmybyfallingtrees,etc.Apersonwhogoesbefore,preparingthewayforothers,asascientistdoingexploratoryworkFondfoolishTenderandaffectionateministerOld:anattendantNew:apersonattheheadofadepartmentofastate.marshalOriginally:AhorsetenderPresentMeaning:OfficerofhighestrankcraftsmanOld:apersongoodatcheatingNow:amanwhodoesaskilledjob,usu,withhandsshrewdOldmeaning:wicked;maliciousNow:keen-witted;cleverorsharpinpracticalaffairsDegradationofmeaningWordswithacommendatorymeaningmaybecomeoneswithaderogatorysense.Thisiscalleddegradationofmeaningordeterioration.ExampleVillainafarmeramanguiltyofevildeedsclownapeasantamanwhoisclumsyandbehavesstupidlyWordoldmeaningdegrademeaningsillyhappyfoolishknaveboydishonestpersoncriticizeappraisefindfaultwithlustpleasuresexualdesireCauseofchangesinwordmeaningHistoricalcauseSocialcauseForeigninfluencesLinguisticcausePsychologicalcauseHistoricalcause:Itoftenhappensthatthoughawordretainitsoriginalform,itsmeaninghaschangedbecausetheobjectwhichitdenotes（表示）haschanged,thisisthehistoricalcauseofsemanticchange.pencil(fromLatinwordmeaning)—alittletailorafinebrush,likeourchinesepenwhenitwasmadeofwoodandgraphite石墨，itwasstillcalleda“pencil”Socialcause:changeinwordmeaningresultingfromaconstantverbaltrafficbetweencommonwordsandvarioustechnicalwordsisreferredtoassocialcauseofsemanticchangeHotandcoldhavechangedtheirmeaninginthefieldofpolitics,