英语词汇学第七章

第七章

词汇：

modes n. 模式

elevation 提高

shrinking v. 萎缩

amelioration n. 改进

humble adj. 谦逊的；简陋的；（级别或地位）低下的；不大的

pejoration n. 恶化；堕落；语义的转贬

derogatory adj. 贬损的

Analogy 比拟

要点：

一.Vocabulary is the most unstable element of a language as it is

under-going constant changes both in form and content.

The content is even more unstable than the forms.

Word-meaning changes by modes is

extension, narrowing, degradation, elevation and transfer. of these, extension

and narrowing are by far the most common.

二.

1.Extension (generalization)--is a term referring to the widening of meaning. It is a pro cess by which a word,

which originally had a specialized meaning, has now become generalized.

(Word old meaning now meaning

Manuscript handwriting :any author‘s writing whether written by hand or typed with a type-writer or a word-processor

Fabulous resembling:a fable incredible, marvelous

Barn :a place for storing only barley storeroom

Picture painting include "drawings" and even "photographs".

Mill place for grinding into flour place where things are ma de

Journal daily paper periodical

Butcher one who kills goats one who kills animals

Companion one who shares bread a company·

. A large proportion of polysemic words of modern English have their meanings extended sometimes in the course of development. Some words are generalized to such an extent that they can mean almost anything.

Word old meaning now meaning

Thing a public assembly or a council anything

Business, concern, condition, matter, article, circumstance ·

.Technical terms

Word old meaning now meaning

Alibi (a legal term) plea that the accused is not at the place excuse

When the crime is committed

Allergic (a medical term) too sensitive to medicine averse or disinclined to

Feedback (computer term) response ·

.From proper nouns

Word old meaning now meaning

Lynch the Lynch‘s Law kill without lawful trial

Sandwish a gambler‘s name to denote a kind of fast place or squeeze between

Food Vandal a member of an East Germanic tribe malicious destruction of a thing

A person of such behaviour

V. vandalize Adj. Vandalic/vandalistic n. vandalization/vandalism

2. Narrowing (specialization) --is a term referring to the shrinking of meaning. It is a proc ess by which a word of

wide meaning acquires a narrower or specialized sense.

Word old meaning now meaning

Deer animal Corn grain maize Garage any safe place a place for storing cars

Liquor liquid alcoholic drink

Disease discomfort illness

Poison drink poisonous drink

Wife woman a married woman

Accident event unfortunate event

Girl young person of either sex female young person

.Turn into a proper nouns

The City business center of London

The Peninsula Iberian Peninsula

The Prophet Mohammed

.For economy, some phrases are shortened and only one element of the original is left t o retain the meaning of