词汇学

1：[论述题]

《英语词汇学》第一次作业

Definitions

Define the following terms with illustrative examples.

1. aliens

2. denizens

3. homophone

4. metonymy

5. acronym

6. semantic loan

7. slang

8. back-formation

9. conversion

10. polysemy

参考答案：

《英语词汇学》第一次作业参考答案

1. aliens: Aliens are words borrowed from a foreign language without any

change of the foreign sound and spelling. These words are immediately recognizable as foreign in origin. For examples, "coup d'état”, "résumé”, "régime”, etc. are all Aliens of French borrowings. 2. denizens: Denizens are easily associated with already existing native

words. They are successfully assimilated. They are foreign words which have been conformed to native English in accent, form (spelling) and even in adoption of an English affix. E.G. uncertain (the English prefix un- + certain, French by origin).

3. homophone: Homophones are words identical in sound but different in

spelling and meaning, e.g. sun, son; piece and peace; etc.

4. metonymy: Metonymy is one way of meaning transference whereby the name

of one thing is changed for that of another, to which it is related by association of ideas. For example, when I say "I am reading

Shakespeare (meaning Shakespeare's works), I am using metonymy.”5. acronym: Acronyms are formed from the initial letters of words, but

are pronounced as a word., e.g. radar: radio detecting and ranging”.

6. semantic loan: Semantic loan denotes the development in an English

word of a new meaning due to the influence of a related word in another language. For example, the English word "dream”, for instance, which originally meant joy, music, has taken its modern meaning from the Norse.

7. slang: Slang is the language of a highly colloquial type, considered

as the level of standard educated speech, and consisting either of new words or of current words used in standard social sense. For example, "hat pet”, "nut”, "upper storey”, etc. are the slang words for "head” in American English.

8. back-formation: Back-formation is the word-forming process whereby

a new word is formed by adding rather than subtracting elements. For

Example, "beg” is formed by subtracting "-ar” from "beggar”.

9. conversion: Conversion is the word forming process whereby a word is

changed from one part of speech into another without the addition of an affix. For example, the verb "release” corresponds to a noun "release”.

10. polysemy: Polysemy is a linguistic phenomenon where a word has more

than one meanings. For example, "show” means "exhibition, or

spectacle, or entertainment” when used as a noun and it means quite differently when it is used as a verb.

1：[单选题]

Exercise 3 Multiple Choice

Beneath each sentence there are 4 words or phrases marked A, B, C, and D. Choose the word or phrase that correctly completes the sentence.

1. The scientists realized it would be too to ship all

people in one boat because it was fragile.

A：bold

B：daring

C：risky

D：dangerous

参考答案：C

2：[单选题]

2. The football player had studied economics in the university for

of roughly six years.

A：a decade

B：a time