词汇学_Changes_in_Word_Meaning.

1、Changes in Word MeaningChanges in Word Meaning Introduction HamletHamlet Shakespeare The The rivalrivals of my watch,bid them make hastes of my watch,bid them make haste Take each mans censure, but reserve thy judgement How pregnant sometimes his replies are! Ill wipe away all trivial fond records .

2、 partner opinion meaningful stupid 2 1. Extension of meaning 2. Narrowing of meaning 4. Degeneration of meaning 3. Elevation of meaning Changes in Word Meaning 5. Transference 6. Euphemism 1. Extension or generalization The widening of the meaning of some words, that is, the word has extended to cov

3、er a broader concept. （also known as）Generalization of Meaning It is a process by which a word which originally had a specialized meaning has now become generalized or has extended to cover a broader and often less definite concept. 一个原本具有特殊意义的单词的词义被延伸，范围扩大， 从而指代一种普遍意义的语义变化过程。 Extension of Meaning m

4、anuscript fabulous handwriting Resembling a fable or based on a fable any authors writing whether written by hand or typed with a typewriter or a word-processor. incredible or marvelous Salary (original) a sum of money given to Roman soldiers to enable them to buy salt (政府按时 发给古罗马军人一些买盐的钱) (present)

5、 fixed payment made by employer at regular intervals to employees (薪水) Four kinds of extension A. From specific to general B. From proper nouns to common nouns C. From concrete to abstract D. From technical terms to general words Extension of Meaning It is through widening of meaning that a monosemi

6、c word is made polysemic. A. From specific to general Example Picture: originally: a painting or drawing The present meaning a photograph a cinematic picture an x-ray picture a TV picture a radio-telescope picture any picture More Examples rubbish Originally: rubble (碎石/瓦砾） Now: anything worthless S

7、andwich: It now denotes a popular fast food. It originates from John Montague, Fourth earl of Sandwich in 18th -century England. He was so fond of gambling that he often forgot his meals. He often ordered slices of bread with thick pieces of roast beef stuffed between them be brought to him so he co

8、uld eat while playing. Later, people used his name to refer to all similar food. Greek Myth: a king punished for his misdeeds by having to stand in water that recedes when he tries to drink it and under fruit that moves away as he reaches for it. Tantalize Tantalus Tantalus是神的仆人，他侍奉神但从没见过神使 用法力。有一天，

9、Tantalus想试试神是否真的有 法力，于是杀了自己的儿子并将儿子的尸体做成 菜肴呈给神。神一看到菜便知道这是Tantalus的 儿子。于是就按照法规定了Tantalus两条罪名- 杀人和欺骗神明。神给予Tantalus的惩罚是将 Tantalus绑在一根柱子上，在他的下巴位置放上 干净的水，在他的鼻子上方挂上香甜的果子。可 是，如果Tantalus一低头水就会降低； 一抬头果 子就会升高。Tantalus时刻守着食物的引诱，却 永远也得不到. Narcissus Narcissus: Greek myth: a beautiful youth who fell in love with h

10、is ref- lection in a pool, hence the word : narcissism and the meaning: an interest in or admiration for oneself. B) from proper nouns to common nouns: Many proper nouns including person-names, place-names etc. have become common nouns used in everyday life. Ampere: fundamental unit of current (from

11、 Andre M. Ampere, a French physicist) 专有名词通过转类法转为普通形容词: Mickey Mouse: the name of a cartoon character created by Walter Disney, known for his simple-minded attitudes,hen the meaning:ineffective, trivial and insignificant Example: Two days for a 226-mile race is Mickey Mouse. 两天跑完226英里的赛程是轻而易举 的事。 a

12、mickey mouse college course 一门容易 学的大学课程 C) from technical terms to general words alibi plea that the accused is not at the place when the crime is committed excuse alibi (original) a legal term signifying “the plea that the accused is not at the place when the crime is committed” (被告人不在犯罪现场被告人不在犯罪现场

13、 的证明的证明) (present) excuse (借口) Late again, Richard? Whats your alibi this time? 理查德, 又迟到了? 这次你有什么藉口呢? allergic (original) too sensitive to medicine 患过敏症的 (present) averse or disinclined to 反感的；厌恶 的 allergic to work对工作的厌恶 Word Old meaningExtended meaning millplace for gringding grain into flour journ

14、aldaily paper scenetent bonfirefire on bones butcherone who kills goats companionone who shares bread Fill in the blanks with what you get in the book. Narrowing of Meaning Narrowing of meaning is a process by which a word of wide Meaning acquires a narrower or specialized sense. ExampleOriginal Mea

15、ningMeaning after Narrowing meatfood 食物flesh of animals 肉 diseasediscomfort 不适illness 疾病 wifewoman 妇女married woman 妻子 accidentevent 事件unfortunate event 事故 Narrowing of Meaning Examples liquor meat disease wife accident girl starve success corpse a clean room a white room 1）When a common word is turn

16、ed into a proper noun, the meaning is narrowed accordingly. “the City” means “the business center of London” “the Prophet” stands for “Mohammed” Arab prophet of Islam. At the age of 40 he began to preach as Gods prophet of the true religion. Mohammed established a theocratic state at Medina after 62

17、2 and began to convert Arabia to Islam. 2). For economy, some phrases are shortened and only one element of the original, usually an adjective, is left to retain the meaning of the whole. Such adjectives have thus taken on specialized meanings. a general = a general officer an editorial = an editori

18、al article 3.Some material nouns are used to refer to objects made of them and thus have a more specific sense. silver silver dollar glass a cup-like container or a mirror iron device for smoothing clothes Both extension and narrowing of meaning are talking about the changes in conceptual meaning. N

19、ext we will talk about the changes in associative meaning. Elevation of Meaning 词义的升格词义的升格 It is the process by which words rise from humble beginnings to positions of importance. Some words early in their history signify something quite low or humble, but change as time goes by to designate somethi

20、ng agreeable or pleasant. 词义的升华指词由贬义或中性转变为褒义。即，有些 词在历史上表示“卑微、下贱”之义，随着时间的推 移转为“惬意的，愉快的”。 nice ignorant - foolish - delightful, pleasant marshal a keeper of horses - a high ranking army officer constable a keeper of horses - a policeman Degradation of Meaning 词义的降格词义的降格 It is a process whereby words o

21、f good origin or affective neutrality fall into ill reputation or come to be used in a derogatory sense. 这是一个词由原先表示中性意义或褒义转为表示贬义 的过程。 silly blessed and happy- innocent-simple or simple- minded -foolish sad full, satisfied, contented - calm - serious - -sorrowful Transference of Meaning 词义的转移词义的转移 De

22、finition Some words which were used to designate one thing but later changed to mean something else have experienced the process of semantic transfer, known as transference or transfer of meaning. 有些词原指称某些事物，后来发生变化，转为指称另 外的事物，就是词义的转移。 Types of transference Associated Transfer 联想转移 Transfer between A

23、bstract and Concrete Meanings 抽象含 义与具体意义间的转移 Transfer between Subjective and Objective Meanings 主观 意义和客观意义间的转移 Synesthesia 通感 Associated Transfer 联想转移 This is what is commonly known as figurative extension of meaning. e.g. The lip of a wound 伤口的边缘 The tongues of fire The foot of a mountain Transfer

24、between Abstract and Concrete Meanings 抽象含义与具体意义间的转移 Abstract to concrete meaning Room formerly meant “space” as in “There is no room in the car”. Now it has developed a concrete meaning as in “This flat has three rooms”. Concrete to abstract meaning Grasp (original)A firm hold with the hands and ar

25、ms (present)The power or ability to understand Transfer Between Subjective and Objective Meanings 主观意义和客观意义间的转移 Some words were formerly used subjectively but later shifted to an objective use, and the subjective meaning was totally lost. WordSubjective meaningObjective meaning pitifulfull of pitydeserving pity dreadfulfull of dreadcausing dread Synesthesia 通感通感 This kind of transfer t