7ChangesinWordMeaningBACK

ChangesinWordMeaning

Vocabulary:1. mostunstableelementofa language2. undergoingconstantchangesboth informandcontent3. Comparatively,meaningeven moreunstableChangesinWordMeaning

Quirk:‘...almosteverywordweusetodayhasaslightlydifferentmeaningfromtheoneithadacenturyago,andacenturyagoithadaslightlydifferentmeaningfromtheoneithadacenturybeforethat’.ChangesinWordMeaning

Shakespeare’suse:Therivalsofmywatch,bidthemmakehaste…rival=partnerThustwicebefore,andjumpatthisdeadhour…jump=justChangesinWordMeaning

Howpregnantsometimeshisrepliesare…pregnant=meaningful7.1TypesofChange

1.Extensionextension=generation:changefromaspecificmeaningtoamoregeneralone

1.

Extensionmanuscript=hand+writing 1)firstdraftwrittenbyhand2)writingbyanymeans1.

Extensionlady

1)mistress

2)womane.g. saleslady;ladynovelist;

ladies’room=ladiessalary:

moneygiventoRoman

soldierstobuysalt1.

ExtensionHoliday:

1)HolyDay

2)anydayordayswithout workorstudy1.

ExtensionTechnicaltermsusedascommonwords:feedback(computer)=responseallergic(medicine)=averseto anything2.NarrowingNarrowing=specialization:changefromageneralmeaningtoaspecificmeaningwifewoman→amarriedwoman e.g.TheMerryWivesofWinsor

《溫莎的風流娘兒們》

housewife;midwife2.Narrowingactor

doermemory

memoryincomputershroud

cloth clothforwrappingthecorpsea

private = aprivatesoldieragold = agoldmedal3.Elevationelevation=amelioration:

change fromnegativetopositive fromderogatorytoappreciative fromneutraltoappreciativefromunimportanttoimportant3.Elevationgovernor pilot headofastateminister servant headofaministrylord

loafgiver16Examples:

wordOriginalmeaningMeaningafterelevationMinisteraservantApersonattheheadofadepartmentofstateMarshalahorsetenderOfficerofhighestrankshrewsevil,badKeen-witted,clevernicefoolishgood4.Degradationdegradation=pejoration:

change fromappreciativetopejorative frompositivetonegative fromimportanttounimportant fromneutraltonegative4.Degradationcriticize appraise findfaultwithvillain

workeratavilla wickedperson/scoundrelcunning

skillful

slyqueen

homosexualwife5.Transfer/transferenceTransfer=transference:meaningshiftfromonethingtoanother5.Transfer/transferenceTypesofTransfer1.Associatedtransfer

themeaningistransferredthrough associationtodog

追蹤tomonkey

戲弄5.Transfer/transferencetoape

模仿tofox

欺騙the

teethofacomb梳齒thetongues

offire火舌teeth

and

tongues

semanticallymotivated5.Transfer/transference2.Transferbetweenabstract

and concretemeaning

aftermath

secondcropofgrassafter mowing (concrete)resultorconsequence(abstract)5.Transfer/transferenceenvy

feelingofsuch

(abstract)

apersontobeenvied(concrete)e.g.Maryistheenvyoftheclass.

(concrete)5.Transfer/transference3.Transferbetweensubjectiveand objectivemeaningTheoldmanishateful.

Theoldmanishatedbypeople.

Theoldmanreceiveshate.

(objective)5.Transfer/transferenceTheteacherwassuspiciousofthestudent’sexcuse.Theteachersuspectedthestudent’sexcuse. (subjective)5.Transfer/transferenceCharacteristicsofverbs:subjective:

having

showing

fullofobjective:

causing

deserving

bringing5.Transfer/transferencepainful objectiveconsiderate subjectiverespectable objectiverespectful

subjective5.Transfer/transferencecourageous subjectivedangerous objectivesuspicious

subjective/objectivefearful

subjective/objectivedoubtful subjective/objective5.Transfer/transferenceThemanlooks

suspiciousashisbehavioris unusual.(objective)Theneighboursaresuspiciousofthemanashisbehaviourisunusual.(subjective)5.Transfer/transferenceTheteacherwasdoubtful1

ofthedoubtful2excuseofthestudent.(1)subjective(2)objective5.Transfer/transference4.Synesthesia

atransferofsensationfromsensetoanothersenseclear-sounding fromsighttohearingloudcolours fromhearingtosightsweetmusic fromtastetohearing7.2CausesofChanges

7.2.1

Extra-linguisticFactors1.Historicalreason

sun

theluminousheavenlybody—oneofthesevenplanetsrevolvingaroundtheearthThesun

risesandsets.7.2.1

Extra-linguisticFactorsastararoundwhichtheearthandotherplanetsrevolve...(WNWD)atomfromatomos

(Greek)anyoftheindivisibleparticles7.2.1

Extra-linguisticFactors2.Classreason

churl

‘peasant’

‘freeman’

‘uncultivatedormeanperson’

hussy

‘housewife’

‘womanoflowmorals’

wench

‘countrygirl’

‘prostitute’7.2.1

Extra-linguisticFactors3.Psychologicalreason

garbagecollector

sanitationengineerbarber

beauticianpoliceman custodianoflawpoorpeople