Transcript Semantic-changex

SEMANTIC CHANGE
Starter: can you think of any words, either that we have
already discussed, or that you can come up with, where
the meaning has changed?
How and why do words change their
meanings?
Neosemy
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The process whereby a new meaning develops for an existing word.
Look up these words, first in a normal dictionary, and then with an etymological
dictionary
Awful
Cunning
Mischievous
Naughty
Passion
Impertinent
Disease
Vulgar
Pretty
Fond
What processes are involved with
neosemy?
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Generalisation/broadening
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Specialising/narrowing
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Meat from mete
Wife
Amelioration
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The meaning of a word broadens so that it retains its old meaning but takes on added meanings e.g.
holiday – holy day
A word acquires a more pleasant or more positive meaning e.g. brave (used to mean wild/savage)
Pejoration
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The opposite – a word becomes less favourable e.g. villain used to mean ‘farm worker’; hussy was
short for housewife
What processes are involved with
neosemy?
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Weakening/bleaching
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Metaphor
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Words acquire additional meanings as physical ideas are extended to abstract ideas with similar
qualities, e.g. grasp – physically grasp or to grasp an idea; high – physical height or to get high
Euphemism
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The reduction of the force of meaning of a word – often happens with taboo language e.g. ‘sh*t’ –
‘I’ll get my sh*t together’, meaning ‘stuff’
The creation of polite, roundabout expressions for things considered unpleasant e.g. collateral
damage
Polysemy
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When words acquire many possible meanings, which coexist with the original e.g. milking it, good
(morally good, of good quality), foot (of a hill, at the end of your leg)
Neosemy – how did these words change
their meanings?
Awful
Cunning
Mischievous
Naughty
Passion
Impertinent
Disease
Vulgar
Pretty
Fond
What does the way these
words have changed their
meanings tell us about the
values and assumptions of our
society?
How do the meanings of words change?
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Change from above or conscious changes
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This is where change is initiated by those in a dominant social position, or occupying a
position of power and authority; usually in line with standard forms of usage and linked
to prestige forms of language
e.g. pupil v. student
e.g. gay
Change from below or unconscious changes
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This is where change is driven by users of a language, developing or adapting language
according to their own social need; often initially appearing in vernacular forms that may
be introduced by any social class (N.B. this will be the most common way in which
semantic change occurs)
e.g. decimated
Why do words change their meanings?
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External Factors
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Cultural changes, technological innovation or social convention may affect how a word is
used. E.g. technology: web, bug, crash, windows.
Additionally, changing social ideas may necessitate a new term such as LGBT, to replace
words that are no longer acceptable.
Internal Factors
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The basic meaning of a word can be linked to something, e.g. an actual virus can be
likened to a computer virus. This accounts for semantic change through metaphor.
Why do words change their meanings?
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Effects of Norman invasion -
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French terms connected with prestige, status or power ( words connected with the
crown, government, law, high status cuisine and fashion)
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crown, parliament, haute couture, venison, banquet, robe etc
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Moralisation of status words OE - villain, churl, knave
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Norman imports - noble, gentle,
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Effects of Religious Reformation and lessening power of Church secularisation of religious words
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clerk, office, cell, goodbye, Anti-Catholic feeling pejorated certain words - idol, image,
saint
Why do words change their meanings?
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Influence of Advertising:
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Advertising often provides clues to approved concepts or social values (e.g. consider value of
conspicuous consumption vs environmental awareness in current adverts)
Certain words have been ameliorated
mean--------------------------'mean machine'
revolutionary-----------------'revolutionary new product
blend---------------------------'gold blend'
flavour-------------------------'real flavour' etc
Alternative spellings
disappearing 'gh' --- lite nite brite (think about contexts in which these are seen!)
• 'kwik' 'kreme' 'n' (and)
• These can offer alternative experiences e.g. nite club (not night club) lite (more slimming than
'light')
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What contextual factors might have
accounted for the way these words have
changed their meanings?
Awful
Cunning
Mischievous
Naughty
Passion
Impertinent
Disease
Vulgar
Pretty
Fond
Homework – be ready to discuss next
lesson
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Read the extract from Jean Aitchinson, Language Change: Progress or Decay and answer
the questions below in note form:
1.
Why do people respond negatively to semantic change?
2.
Why is it difficult to classify semantic change?
3.
What is compared with ‘stamp collecting’?
4.
How does Aitchinson recommend we treat semantic change?
5.
In what ways are words NOT like cuckoos?
6.
In what way can words be described as ‘fuzzy’?
7.
What does Aitchinson mean by splitting into layers?
8.
What ‘universal laws’ could be argued define the way polysemy occurs?