1. Polysemy. Semantic Structure of the Word and Semantic Change Lecture # 7 Grigoryeva M.

2. Semantic Structure of Words semantic structure of a word – a structured set of interrelated lexico- semantic variants semantic structure of a word – combination of various meanings

3. FIRE I Flame II III IV V Destructive Burning smth The shooting Strong feeling Burning in a fire of guns passion Forest fire Camp fire To open fire Speech lacking fire I main meaning II-V secondary meanings

4. Types of semantic components Leading component – denotative component ( expresses the conceptual content of a word) Additional component- connotative component (gives more full picture of the meaning of a word)

5. denotative component + connotative component Lonely alone, without company + sad (emotive connotation) To glare to look (connotation of + lastingly duration) + with anger (emotive)

6. To glance to look + briefly (duration) To shiver to tremble + lastingly (duration) + with the cold (cause) To shudder to tremble + briefly (duration) + with horror (emotive)

7. Types of Lexical Meanings as Elements of a Word’s Semantic Structure Primary : : secondary basic : : minor central : : peripheric direct : : figurative general : : particular abstract : : concrete neutral : : coloured present day : : archaic

8. Semantic change “ HUSBAND” Old English – “a master of the house” Modern English – “a man to whom a woman is married”

9. Semantic Change development of a new meaning change of meaning Causes of Semantic Change linguistic factor extra-linguistic (historical) factors

10. Extra-linguistic Causes various changes in the life of the speech community changes in economic and social structures changes in culture, knowledge, technology, arts changes of ideas, scientific concepts, way of life EX. pen penna (Latin) “feather of a bird”

11. Linguistic Causes factors acting within the language system ellipsis – a change of meaning when the meaning of a word-combination is given to only one word of this combination EX (Old English) a train of carriages= a row of carriages (Modern English) a train of carriages

12. Changes in Denotational Meaning restriction of meanings (narrowing) – restriction of the types or referents denoted by the word OE “hound” – a dog of any greed Mo E “hound” – a dog used in chase extension of meanings (widening) – application of the word to wider variety of referents OE “trunk” – the main stem of a tree Mo E “trunk” – the body of anything

13. Changes in Denotational Meaning specialization - the word with a new meaning (restricted) comes to be used in the specialized vocabulary OE glide -“to move gently and smoothly” Mo E “glide” -to fly with no engine generalization – the word with the extended meaning passes from the specialized vocabulary into common use OE “salary” – money given to soldiers to buy salt with Mo E “salary” – money paid to clerks

14. Changes in Connotational Meaning pejoration (degradation) – acquiring some negative derogatory emotive charge. OE “boor”- a villager, a peasant Mo E “boor” – a clumsy or ill- bred fellow amelioration (elevation) – improvement of the connotational component OE “minister” – a servant, an attendant Mo E “minister” – a civil servant of higher rank

15. Polysemy The ability of words to have more than one meaning is described as polysemy A word having several meanings is called polysemantic Words having only one meaning are called monosemantic (mainly scientific terms)

16. Polysemy: Meaning and Context Customer I would like a book, please. Bookseller Something light? Customer That doesn’t matter. I have my car with me.

17. BRIGHT Bright colour (dress, flower) Bright metal (gold, silver) Bright student (boy) Bright face (smile, eyes)

18. Types of Contexts contexts linguistic, or verbal extra-linguistic, or non-verbal lexicalgrammatical

19. Types of Contexts extra-linguistic context – a real speech situation in which the word is used EX. “I’ve got it” – 1) possess 2) understand

20. Types of Contexts grammatical context – where grammatical structure of the context serves to determine various individual meanings of a polysemantic word EX to make 1)“to force, to induce” – make somebody do something “make + smb+ bare infinitive” 2) “to become, to turn out to be” – make a good wife make + adjective + noun

21. Types of Contexts lexical context – the group of words which fill the grammatical pattern which forms the environment of the analyzed word EX. heavy -”of great weight, weighty” – heavy load, heavy table heavy + natural phenomenon = “striking, falling with force” – heavy rain, heavy wind

22. V.V. Vinogradov Meaning and Usage Meanings are fixed and common for all people Usage is a possible application of one of the meanings of a polysemantic word Meaning is not identical with usage

23. A.I. Smirnitsky A lexico-semantic variant (LVC) (a two-facet unit двусторонняя единица ) Formal facet Content facet (sound-form) (one of the meanings) The semantic centre Is the part of meaning which remains constant in all lexico-semantic variants of the word

24. Polysemy: Meaning and Context the meaning of a word in speech is contextual – depends on the context meaning is determined by the context context – the minimal stretch of speech determining each individual meaning of the word context individualizes the meanings, brings them out

25. Diachronic Approach to Polysemy growth and development in the semantic structure of the word the word retains its previous meanings and at the same time acquires new ones some of the old meanings may become obsolete or disappear

26. Diachronic Approach to Polysemy primary meaning – the first meaning with which the word appeared in the language secondary meaning – could appear only after the primary meaning derived meaning – could not have appeared before primary meaning was in existence and is dependent on it

27. Synchronic Approach to Polysemy coexistence of various meanings at the same historical period of the development of the language

28. Synchronic Approach to Polysemy basic/ central meaning – the meaning that first occurs to us whenever we see or hear a word, occurs in different contexts, has the highest frequency minor/ marginal meaning – less frequent, observed only in certain contexts

29. Synchronic Approach to Polysemy a table - “ a piece of furniture” – central meaning a table - 1)people seated minor/ at a table for a meal; marginal 2)food provided meanings at a table

30. Nature of semantic change similarity of meanings (METAPHOR) contiguity of meanings (METONYMY)

31. Similarity of Meanings - METAPHOR appearance of a new meaning as a result of associating two objects (phenomena, qualities, etc.) due to their resemblance

32. Contiguity of Meanings - Metonymy association of two referents one of which makes part of the other or is closely connected with it

33. Secondary Ways of Semantic Changes hyperbole irony euphemism taboo litotes

34. Hyperbole the exaggerated statement which should not be understood literally as it expresses an emotional attitude of a speaker to what he is speaking about EX I haven’t seen you for ages It’ll be the death for me

35. Irony the expression of one meaning by words of opposite sense, usually it is done for the purpose of ridicule EX How nice! (when you are angry) A pretty mess you’ve done of it!

36. Euphemism referring to something unpleasant by using milder words and phrases so that a formerly inoffensive word receives a disagreeable meaning EX. to pass away = to die

37. Taboo the case when it is prohibited to pronounce a word and it is replaced by another word or a word-combination EX nigger- Afro American

38. Litotes expressing the affirmative by the negative of its contrary EX. not bad = good not small = great

39. Results of Semantic change Change of the denotational meaning connotational meaning Restriction Extension of meaning Deterioration Amelioration of meaning of meaning

40. SPECIALIZATION Common Specialized vocabulary GENERALIZATION

41. Results of Semantic change Change of the denotational meaning connotational meaning Restriction Extension of meaning Deterioration Amelioration of meaning of meaning

42. Amelioration of meaning implies the improvement of the connotational component of meaning Minister : “a servant” “a civil servant of higher rank” Deterioration of meaning implies the acquisition by the word of some derogatary emotive charge Boor : “a peasant” “ a clumsy or ill bred fellow”