2. Variation and change: profile and parameters: Porovnání verzí

(poznámky k sémantické změně)
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1. '''What are the usual directions of semantic change and why do you think that is the case? '''
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''semantic change'' = alteration in the lexical meaning of words and morphemes; it is the most susceptible to change because of the arbitrary connection between the signifier and the signified
 
 
 
* directions of the semantic change usually come in pairs, one of them is usually more frequent
 
 
 
1. ''Generalization''
 
* widening in scope of a word's meaning - word denotes a greater variety of referrents
 
* more frequent than specialization
 
* examples: holiday - originally only religious significance, now a general break from work; business - originally the state of being busy
 
 
 
2. ''Specialization''
 
* narrowing of the meaning - lower number of referrents
 
* sometimes occurs together with borrowing: a native word is specialized, the borrowing has a general meaning (lust vs. desire)
 
* examples: meat - originally "food"
 
 
 
3. ''Pejoration''
 
* acquisition of a less favourable meaning
 
* more frequent than amelioration
 
* examples: "hussy" originally refered to a housewife; names of animals used as derogatory terms
 
 
 
4. ''Amelioration''
 
* acquisition of a more favourable meaning
 
* examples: "nice" originally meant "silly, simple", "success" orginally "result"
 
 
 
5. ''Weakening''
 
* for topics that we find difificult to talk about (bodily functions, sex, death) - linguistic taboo - we use euphemisms
 
* euphemisms are in continual need of renewal - it may come to be considered too strong after some time
 
* examples: condition instead of disease (generalization), pass away (figure of speech), STD (acronyms), darn (phonetic distortion),...
 
 
 
6. ''Strengthening''
 
* hyperbole, common with intensifiers ("terribly sorry", "awfully good")
 
* they undergo a continual process of weakening - must be replaced by stronger words
 
 
 
7. ''Figurative Shifts''
 
* transfer of meaning from one referrent to another
 
* Metaphor: semantic change takes place when a metaphor dies (it is no longer perceived as a metaphor) - eye of a storm, mouth of a river, the days to come
 
* Synecdoche: part for a whole - pretty faces (beautiful people), a rhyme (a poem)
 
* Metonymy: contiguity of meaning - the White House (the president etc.)
 
* Synesthesia: a word referring to one sense is transferred to another/to a non-sensual domain - a quiet colour
 

Verze z 19. 10. 2016, 14:32