[英语考试]英语词汇学第八章重点

1、English Lexicology8Chapter 8 meaning and contextIn this chapter, you will learn:1. types of context 语境的类型2.the role of context 语境的作用The relationship between meaning and context and the way in which context affects the meaning of words. As most words have more than one meaning, it is often impossible

2、 to tell the meaning of a word before it is used in context.Context is very important for the understanding of word-meaning because the meaning is influenced immediately by the linguistic context, and in many cases by the whole speech situation as well.8.1 types of contextIn a narrow sense, it refer

3、s to the words, clauses, sentences in which a word appears.This is known as linguistic context , which may cover a paragraph, a whole chapter and even the entire book.In a broad sense, it includes the physical situation as well. This is called extra-linguistic or non-linguistic context, which embrac

4、es the people, time, place, and even the whole cultural background.8.1.1 extra-linguistic contextThe extra-linguistic context may extend to embrace the entire culture background. Eg.trade union: -an organization of workers in western countries -an organization of masses under the leadship of the par

5、ty in ChinaLandlord:-someone who owned a lot of land and collected money by renting land without working in Chinese culture-someone who rents the house for money in western countries8.1.2 linguistic context 语言语境Linguistic context can be subdivided into lexical context and grammatical context. 词汇语境 语

6、法语境Lexical Context 词汇语境Lexical Context refers to the words that occur together with the word in question. The meaning of the word is often affected and defined by the neighboring word. neibri邻近的Eg.Paper:-todays paper (newspaper)-examination paper (a set of questions used as an examination)Do:-do a s

7、um (work out the answer to a mathematical question)-do ones teeth ( brush ones teeth)Grammatical context语法语境Grammatical context The meanings of a word may be inflected by the structure in which it occurs. Eg.Become:-(V-link)become +adj./n. (used as predicative), meaning begin to be She became increa

8、singly anxious about her husbands strange behaviour.-(V-T)become+pron./n. (used as object), meaning suit, befit(If sth. Becomes sb, it makes them look attractive or it seems right for them. 适合; 与相称Does that shirt become you? 那件衬衫适合你吗？) Sarcasm doesnt become you.-(phrase)become+ of, meaning happen to

9、I dont know what will become of us if the company goes bankrupt.我不知道公司如果破产我们将会怎样。 Generally speaking, the immediate verbal context, either lexical or grammatical, will suffice for interpreting meaning of a word as indicated. however, there are cases where the meaning of a word may remain a puzzle un

10、til a whole paragraph, a chapter or even a whole book covered.Eg.Janet! Donkeys!:-Dickenss David Copperfield the heros aunt ordered her maid to drive donkeys off the grass8.2 the role of contextVerbal context has three major functions:elimination of ambiguity ,mbjuti消除歧义indication of referents 限定所指p

11、rovision of clues for inferring word-meaning prv()n提供线索以猜词义8.2.1 elimination of ambiguity消除歧义Ambiguity often arises due to polysemy and homonymy. 多义关系和同音同形异义关系Due to polysemyHe is a hard businessman. hard -hardworking/difficultHe is a hard businessman to deal with.Due to HomonymyHomonymy is another

12、cause of ambiguity as two separate words share the same form.Eg. The ball was attractive. ball-a round object to play in a game/a dancing partyThe ball was attractive with nice music and a lot of people.Due to Grammatical structure Grammatical structure can also lead to ambiguity.Eg. The fish is rea

13、dy to eat. -the fish is cooked or served,so ready for people to eat. / the fish is ready to eat things.What a nice smell! The fish is ready to eat.I like Mary better than Jean.- I like Mary better than I like Jean/ I like Mary better than Jean likes Mary.I like Mary better than Jean does./I like Mar

14、y better than I do Jean8.2.2 indication of referents限定所指English has a large number of words used to refer directly to people, time, place, etc. without clear context, the reference can be very confusing.Eg.Now-the time of speakingNow you can give me some advice -In stories and accounts of past event

15、s, now is used to refer to the particular time that is being written or spoken about. 这会儿; 那时候 She felt a little better now. 这会儿她觉得好点儿了。 It was too late now for Blake to lock his room door. 布莱克那时锁他的房门已经太晚了。8.2.3 provision of clues for inferring word-meaning提供线索以猜词义Context clues can be summed up as f

16、ollows:1. definition2. explanation3. example4. synonym5. antonym6. hyponym7. relevant details8. word structure定义，解释，举例，同义关系，反义关系，上下义关系，相关细节，词形结构definitionEg. Perhaps thw most startling theory to come out of kinesics, the study of body movement, was suggested by Professor Birdwhistell.explanationIts

17、just one more incredible result of the development of microprocessor-those tiny parts of a computer commonly known as silicon chips.exampleMany United Nations employees are polyglots. Ms. Mary, for example, speaks five languages.synonymyTheir greatest fear was of a conflagration, since fire would de

18、stroy their flimsy wooden settlement before help could arrive. ,knflgre()n flmz 脆弱的antonymyAs the fighting on all fronts reached its peak, the economy neared its nadir.nd 由于各方面的战斗达到了顶峰，经济接近最低点 Hyponymy 上下义关系The village had most of the usual amenities: a pub, a library, a post office, a village hall,

19、 a medical center and a school.Amenity mi:nti-things that make you comfortable and at easeRelevant detailsIn spite of the fact that the fishermen were wearing souwesters, the storm was so heavy that they were wet through.Word structureCopernicus believes in a heliocentric universe, rather than in th

20、e geocentric theory.Heliocentric ,hil()sentrk Helio- : indicating the sun Geocentric di()sentrk Geo-geographyExamination papers in the past22. Which of the following is NOT a context clue? （） (2012.7) A. Relevant details. B. Sentence structure. C. Synonymy. D. Antonymy. 23. The sentence “I like Mary

21、 better than John is ambiguous due to _. （） A. grammatical context B. polysemy C. antonymy D. hyponymy 24. In the sentence“Copernicus believed in a heliocentric universe，rather than in the geocentric theory”，the meaning of heliocentric call be inferred from the clue of _.（） A. relevant details B. wo

22、rd structure C. antonymy D. hyponymy 38. Based on the _ context, we can determine the meaning of “Sarcasm doesnt become you” as “Sarcasm doesnt suit you”. . Define the following terms. (15%) 44. lexical context 49. What are contextual clues? Guess the meaning of the words underlined in the following

23、 sentences and tell what contextual clues have helped you in arriving at the meaning. (a) Their greatest fear was of a conflagration, since fire would destroy their flimsy wooden settlement before help could arrive. (b) As the fighting on all fronts reached its peak, the economy neared its nadir. 22

24、. Which of the following is NOT one of the types of context? ()(2012.4)A. Linguistic context. B. Non-linguistic context.C. Extra-linguistic context. D. Intra-linguistic context.23. Which of the following may NOT lead to ambiguity? ()A. Grammatical structure. B. Polysemy.C. Antonymy. D. Hyponymy.24.

25、Which of the following is NOT true about linguistic context? ()A. It can be subdivided into grammatical context and lexical context.B. It embraces the people, time and place.C. It refers to the words, clauses, sentences in which a word appears.D. It may cover a paragraph, a whole chapter and even th

26、e entire book.38. In the sentence “Copernicus believed in a heliocentric universe, rather than in the geocentric theory.”, the word “heliocentric” is explained by the clue of _ structure.49. Can you determine the meanings of the following sentences? Explain and make some alterations in the context s

27、o as to pin down the meaning. (a) The fish is ready to eat. (b) I like Mary better than Jean.22. Which of the following is NOT one of the main functions of context? ( )(2011.7)A. Elimination of ambiguity. B. Indication for referents. C. Understanding of cultural background. D. Provision of clues for

28、 inferring word-meaning. 23. Which of the following is NOT a context clue? ( )A. Definition. B. Example. C. Synonymy. D. Sentence structure. 24. The sentence “The ball was attractive” is ambiguous due to_. ( )A. grammatical structureB. lexical contextC. homonymyD. polysemy38. Based on the _ context,

29、 we can determine the meaning of “do the flowers” as “ arrange the flowers”. III. Define the following terms. ( 15% )45. linguistic context49. What contextual clues do you often use to help you in guessing the meanings of new words? Demonstrate these clues with examples. 22. In a narrow sense, conte

30、xt refers to the words, clauses, sentences in which a word appears and is known as _ context. ( )(2011.4)A. non-linguistic B. linguisticC. grammatical D. lexical23. Which of the following is one of the main functions of verbal context? ( )A. Elimination of ambiguity. B. Indication for referents.C. P

31、rovision of clues for inferring word-meaning. D. All the above.24. Which of the following is NOT true about extra-linguistic context? ( )A. It can be subdivided into grammatical context and non-linguistic context.B. It refers to physical situation or environment relating to the use of words.C. It em

32、braces the people, time and place.D. It may extend to embrace the entire cultural background.38. The sentence He is a hard businessman is ambiguous due to _.49. What are contextual clues?Guess the meaning of the word underlined in the following sentence and tell what contextual clues have helped you in arriving at the meaning.(a