1. Lesson 14 Lexical semantics 2 Semantic change
LINGUA INGLESE 1 modulo A/B Introduction to English Linguistics prof. Hugo Bowles
Lesson 14
Lexical semantics 2
Semantic change

2. Lexical relations - polysemy
Eye
“Eye” is classified as one word
with two different meanings.
This happens when the
difference in meaning is
predictable or regular.
There is a core meaning
from which the other meanings
(“eye” of a needle, “eye” of a
tornado) can be predicted.
Metaphors are often
polysemous

3. Lexical relations -homonymy
Bank
The word “bank” in “river bank” and “Lloyd’s bank” are classified as two different words with separate meanings even though they have the same form.
This is because the meaning of one form is not predictable from the meaning of another.

4. Polysemy or homonymy?
mail
pupil
ear
face
tongue
key
charge
run

5. Original languages alcohol Arabic boss Dutch croissant French lilac
Persian
piano
Italian
pretzel
German
robot
Czech
tycoon
Japanese
yoghurt
Turkish
zebra
Bantu

6. Semantic borrowing ofis khobbi boykot Russian rajio konpyu-ta kissu
Japanese
le zapping
le midwife
le showbiz
French

7. Calques - loan translations
from skyscraper to grattaciel
from ubermensch to superman
from hot dogs to perros calientes
from boyfriend to boifurendo

8. Grammaticalisation what’s the rule?
Singular
Plural Italian
Plural English
pizza
pizze
pizzas
hamburger
amburger
hamburgers
walkman
walkman?
walkmans?
panino
panini
panino(e)s
panini(e)s

9. What has happened to the meaning in these cases ? (1)
BEFORE
NOW
thing
public assembly
any entity
companion
someone who eats with you
any friend
broadcast
to sow seeds in a field
to transmit by media

10. Broadening
These words have broadened their meaning. In Olde English the word dogge use to refer to one breed of dog. It now refers to all breeds

11. What has happened to the meaning in these cases ? (2)
BEFORE
NOW
mete
any kind of food
a specific kind of food (meat)
wife
any woman
a married woman

12. Narrowing
In these cases the words have narrowed their meaning from a general meaning to a more particular one

13. What has happened to the meaning in these cases ? (3)
BEFORE
NOW
villein
servant
criminal
notorious
famous
unfavourably well-known
vulgar
ordinary
crude, bad-mannered

14. Deterioriation/Pejoration
The word has developed a negative connotation over time

15. What has happened to the meaning in these cases ? (4)
BEFORE
NOW
mischievous
disastrous
naughty

16. Amelioration
The word has developed a more positive connotation over time

17. Processes of change
Broadening - when a word widens its meaning (thing)
Narrowing - when a word becomes more specialised (meat)
Pejoration - when a word develops a negative connotation (vulgar)
Amelioration - when a word loses a negative connotation (mischievous)

18. Why does change happen?
Because the relation between form and meaning is arbitrary in language
Because words are polysemous (they can have different meanings connected to a central meaning)
Because children use words with broader meanings and these sometimes come into the language (broadening)

19. Other types of semantic change
Euphemism
Politically correct language

20. Euphemism cancer a long illness liar economical with the truth
pornography
strike
a long illness
economical with the truth
adult video
industrial action

21. Politically correct language
Political correctness (often abbreviated to PC) is a term used to describe language or behaviour that is intended to provide a minimum of offence, particularly to racial, cultural, or other identity groups. A text that conforms to the ideals of political correctness is said to be politically correct.