篇一：英语词汇学论文Meaning_changes_in_English
On the Change in Word Meaning
1.Introduction
With the flying development of human society, languages as tools for people to express and communicate their ideas changes constantly and frequently. While vocabulary is the most unstable element of language as it is undergoing constant changes both in content and form. Of course, some meanings remain much the same for a long time because the referents to which they direct us do not change. Frequently, an old form or words are pressed into new service when a new linguistic need is felt. When a word loses its old meaning and comes to refer to something different, the result is a change in word meaning. Change of meaning refers to the alternation of the meaning of existing words, as well as the addition of new meaning to a particular word.
2. Types of meaning changes
2.1 Extension of Meaning
It is a process by which a word which originally had a specialized meaning has now become generalized or has extended to cover a broader and often less definite concept. For example, ?lady” originally means hostess(women of house) while its present meaning is any women in polite way. Such as saleslady、cleaning lady、ladies?room. Salary was (Original) a sum of money given to Roman soldiers to enable them to buy salt; and is (present) fixed payment made by employer at regular intervals to employees.
Extension of Meaning is not only used in none but also included verb、adjective and so on. For example, “carry” originally means “transport by cart”(a verb).but now it is just means “tansport”.the adjective “bullish” original from bull market(causing or associated with a rise in prise), and now the word?s meaning extended to “optimistic”.
2.2 Narrowing of Meaning
It is a process by which a word of wide meaning acquires a narrow or specialized sense. In other words, a word which used to have a more general sense becomes restricted in its application and conveys a special concept in present-day English. The
following chart provides us definite demonstration.
In a word, both extension and narrowing of meaning are talking about the changes in conceptual meaning. Next we will talk about the changes in associative meaning.
2.3 Elevation of Meaning
Elevation is the process by which words rise from humble beginnings to positions of importance. Elevation of meaning is one of the tendencies of meaning change,which changes the meaning of a linguistics from "low" to "high". Some words early in their history signify something quite low or humble, but change as time goes by to designate something agreeable or pleasant.
For example, the word ?inn” originally means “auberge” especially those poor equipment houses in rural area or roadside. While its present meaning is “holiday inn”. Obviously, the meaning of “inn” is elevation. "minister" originally means “a servant of master” to presently "head of a department in a nation”.
2.4 Degradation of Meaning
It is a process whereby words of good origin or affective neutrality fall into ill reputation or come to be used in a derogatory sense. For instance, the word "silly" meant "happy and fortunate" in old English period. In middle English period it meant “innocent and harmless” which expressed a man with under development intelligence. However, now the meaning of the word degenerated to "foolish and imbecile". There are still some other examples:
Sad: full, satisfied, contented ----- calm ------ serious ----sorrowful
Cunning: knowing, skillful----- sly, crafty
Wench: girl, young women -----dissolute women, prostitute
3. Conclusion:
Taking into account what has been discussed above, a conclusion can be drawn that the words meaning in English is incessantly developing and changing. The changes are gradual, It is important for the language learners to be acquainted with the changing principles and update their vocabulary, when students study a language, they can?t just learn its grammar or vocabulary, students should know something more, like how did this come, how would this changed. The more we asked the more we got. Hold this attitude can make us be more professional on our major subject.
篇二：Meaning Changes in English 论文
Meaning Changes in English
Abstract: As other languages in the world, English changes as times goes by. English formed and developed over many centuries into the form today. Studying the changing principles of words of English would help us acquire further awareness of English lexicon and do good to our language acquirement.
Key words: Meaning changes, Causes, Types
1. Introduction
Vocabulary is the most unstable element of language as it is undergoing constant changes both in content and form. Of course, some meanings remain much the same for a long time because the
referents to which they direct us do not change. Frequently, an old form or words are pressed into new service when a new linguistic need is felt. When a word loses its old meaning and comes to refer to something different, the result is a change in word meaning. Change of meaning refers to the
alternation of the meaning of existing words, as well as the addition of new meaning to a particular word.
2. Cause of Changes in Word Meaning
There are generally two major factors that cause changes in meaning.
2.1. Extra-linguistic Factors
2.11 Historical Reason
A word is retained for a name though the meaning has changed because the referent has changed. E.g. Pencil is from Latin word meaning—a little tail or a fine brush, like our Chinese pen, later, when it was made of wood and graphite, it was still called a “pencil”.
2.12 Class Reason
Language records the speech and attitude of different social classes, so different social varieties of language have come into being.
The attitude of classes has made ioads into lexical meaning, particularly in the case of elevation and degradation.
Quite a number of words that denote different sorts of working people or their occupations have deteriorated and now have taken on a pejorative sense.
“ill-manned or bad people”.
2.13 Psychology Reason [1]
The associated transfer of meaning and euphemistic use of words, etc. is often due to psychological factors. It takes three forms (a) euphemism (b) grandiloquence (c) cynicism.
People change word meaning owing to various psychological motives: love, respect, courtesy, suspicious, pessimism, sarcasm, irony, contempt, hatred, etc.
The fact that some low, humble and despised occupations often take on more appealing names is all due to psychological reasons.
Religious influence is another kind of psychological need.
2.2 Linguistic Factors
The internal factors within the language system consist of:
① One type of such change occurs when a phrase is shortened to one word which retains the meaning of the whole.（English=the English Language）
②The influx of borrowings has caused some words to change in meaning. (deer, animal, beast)
E.g. Churl, villain, hussy, wench which were originally neutral in color have been down-graded as
③The competition of native words eventually yields the semantic division.
④The change of meaning is brought about by analogy.
3. Types of Changes
3.1 Extension of Meaning
It is a process by which a word which originally had a specialized meaning has now become generalized or has extended to cover a broader and often less definite concept.[2]
For example, salary was (Original) a sum of money given to Roman soldiers to enable them to buy salt; and is (present) fixed payment made by employer at regular intervals to employees.
A large proportion of polysemic words of modern English have their meanings extended sometime in the course of development. Some words are generalized to such a degree that they can mean almost everything. E. g: thing, business, respect
3.2 Narrowing of Meaning
It is a process by which a word of wide meaning acquires a narrow or specialized sense. In other words, a word which used to have a more general sense becomes restricted in its application and conveys a special concept in present-day English.
E. g: wife---woman---married woman meat---food---flesh of animals
3.3 Elevation of Meaning
It is the process by which words rise from humble beginnings to positions of importance. Some words early in their history signify something quite low or humble, but change as time goes by to designate something agreeable or pleasant. [3]
E. g: Nice (ignorant --- foolish --- delightful, pleasant)
Fond (foolish---affectionate)
Awesome (terrible---terrific)
3.4 Degradation of Meaning
It is a process whereby words of good origin or affective neutrality fall into ill reputation or come to be used in a derogatory sense.
E. g: Silly: blessed and happy--- innocent----simple or simple-minded ----foolish
Sad: full, satisfied, contented ----- calm ------ serious ----sorrowful
3.5 Transference of Meaning
Some words which were used to designate one thing but later changed to mean something else have experienced the process of semantic transfer, known as transference or transfer of meaning.
3.51 Associated Transfer
Two objects have some similarities that enable people to associate one to the other.
E. g：the lip of a wound; the tongues of fire
3.52 Transfer between Abstract and Concrete Meanings
①Abstract to concrete meaning
E. g: Room formerly meant “space”, now it has developed a concrete “rooms”.
②Concrete to abstract meaning
E. g: Grasp (original) a firm hold with the hands and arms
(present) the power or ability to understand
3.53Transfer between Subjective and Objective Meanings
Some words were formerly used subjectively but later shifted to an objective use, and the subjective meaning was totally lost.
E. g: pitiful--- full of pity---deserving pity
3.54 Synesthesia
This kind of transfer takes place between words of sensation. That is, words usually associated with one sense are used to describe another sense.
E. g: Clear-sounding (from sight to hearing)
Warm colors (from touch to sight)
3.6 Euphemism
When people use euphemisms there is a semantic change involved as the expressions used often have little to do with the referents.
For example, restroom, bathroom, lounge, John, convenience, comforts room and powder room are all euphemistic terms for “toilet” which itself is a euphemistic term.[4]
4. Conclusion:
So by reading these parts, we of course reach the conclusion that the words in English is incessantly developing and changing. The changes in meaning are gradual, and words are not changed in a day. “Changing word meaning has never ceased since the beginning of the language and will continue in the future.” It is important for the language learners to be acquainted with the changing principles and update their vocabulary.
References:
[1]吴秀芳. 现代英语词义变化与外部原因[M].河南职技师院学报（社会科学版）2000.6
[2]申开敏. 词义的演变课件，海南师范大学外国语学院，百度文库
[3]杨鑫南. 当代英语变迁[M]. 北京外语教学与研究出版社.2007
[4]吴松华. 英语新词的构成及修辞手段[M]. 武汉理工大学学报（社会科学版）2006.10
篇三：英语词汇学论文Meaning_changes_in_English
Meaning changes in English
Abstract: As other languages in the world, English changes as times goes by. English formed and developed over many centuries into the form today. Studying the changing principles of words of English would help us acquire further awareness of English lexicon and do good to our language acquirement.
Key words: meaning changestypescauses
1. Introduction
Vocabulary is the most unstable element of language as it is undergoing constant changes both in content and form. Of course, some meanings remain much the same for a long time because the referents to which they direct us do not change. Frequently, an old form or words are pressed into new service when a new linguistic need is felt. When a word loses its old meaning and comes to refer to something different, the result is a change in word meaning. Change of meaning refers to the alternation of the meaning of existing words, as well as the addition of new meaning to a particular word.
2. Types of meaning changes
2.1 Extension of Meaning /Generalization of Meaning
It is a process by which a word which originally had a specialized meaning has now become generalized or has extended to cover a broader and often less definite concept. For example，Manuscript originally means handwriting (writing by hand only) while its present meaning is any author?s writing whether written by hand or typed with a type-writer or a word-processor. Salary was (Original) a sum of money given to Roman soldiers to enable them to buy salt; and is (present) fixed payment made by employer at regular intervals to employees.
A large proportion of polysemous words of modern English have their meanings extended sometime in the course of development. Some words are generalized to such
a degree that they can mean almost everything.
(1) She is such a pretty little thing.
(2) I have to pack my things for the journey.
(3)There is another thing I want to ask you about.
(4)That only makes things worse.
(5)The thing is, can we finish the job in time?
In the above sentences, “Thing” which used to mean “a public assembly” or “a council” in Anglo-Saxon times, now has become an all-purpose word. Its meaning is so general, and we sometimes call this noun a ?light noun?.he English people are of a mixed blood. The early inhabitants of the island we now call England were Britons, but in fact all the races were the invaders came from Europe. Nobody knows very much about Britain before the Romans came during the first century BC, but there had been at least three invasions before that. The first of these was by a dark-haired Mediterranean race called the Iberians. The other two were by Celtic tribes: one is Gaels, whose descendants are the modern Scots and Irish; another is the Britons, who gave their name to the whole island of Britain. These were the people whom the Romans conquered. The Romans gave the Britons a good deal of their civilization. Then at the beginning of the fifth century Britain was invaded by three tribes from the northern Europe: the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes. These three tribes merged into one people, and the three dialects they spoke naturally grew into a single language, the English language.
2.2 Narrowing of Meaning
It is a process by which a word of wide meaning acquires a narrow or specialized
sense. In other words, a word which used to have a more general sense becomes restricted in its application and conveys a special concept in present-day English. The following chart provides us definite demonstration.
conceptual meaning.
Next we will talk about the changes in associative meaning.
2.3 Elevation of Meaning
It is the process by which words rise from humble beginnings to positions of importance. Some words early in their history signify something quite low or humble, but change as time goes by to designate something agreeable or pleasant. Meanwhile the territorial expansion of the English empire in this period resulted in the expansion of the English vocabulary. Thus, there are many words flow into English vocabulary, which includes American Indian words, Mexican words, Peru words, Brazil words, India and African words.The nineteenth and twentieth centuries are a period of rapid expansion for the English vocabulary in the history of the English language. In this period many changes have taken place. Especially the great development of science and technology is reflected in the English vocabulary.Besides, the great changes in industry, in political and social lives, in sports and amusements all have contributed a great deal to the English vocabulary.Since the Second World War the English vocabulary has been affected powerfully by social, political, economic, especially
scientific and technical changes. The English vocabulary not only changes, but also changes quickly in this period. Thousands of new words are added, existing words acquire new meaning and old words die out. Till now, the English vocabulary is still changing, some words come out and some die out. In a word, as society is constantly in a state of development, so is language. Society depends on language for its existence. As society develops new objects are created that require the invention of new words and expressions. Therefore, the changing of English vocabulary is an endless changing process
Nice: ignorant --- foolish --- delightful, pleasant
Marshal: a keeper of horses --- a high ranking army officer
Constable: a keeper of horses --- a policeman
2.4 Degradation of Meaning
It is a process whereby words of good origin or affective neutrality fall into ill reputation or come to be used in a derogatory sense. For instance,
Silly: blessed and happy--- innocent----simple or simple-minded ----foolish Sad: full, satisfied, contented ----- calm ------ serious ----sorrowful
2.5Transference of Meaning
Some words which were used to designate one thing but later changed to mean something else have experienced the process of semantic transfer, known as transference or transfer of meaning. The types of transference include Associated Transfer, Transfer between Abstract and Concrete Meanings, Transfer between Subjective and Objective Meanings and Synesthesia.
Examples for Associated Transfer: the lip of a wound; the tongues of fire; the foot of a mountain. Examples for Transfer between Abstract and Concrete Meanings: Room formerly meant “space” as in “There is no room in the car”. Now it has
developed a concrete meaning as in “This flat has three rooms”. In addition, grasp was (original) a firm hold with the hands and arms; and is (present) the power or ability to understand.
2.6 Euphemism
When people use euphemisms there is a semantic change involved as the expressions used often have little to do with the referents. Foe example, restroom, bathroom, lounge, John, convenience, comforts room and powder room are all euphemistic terms for “toilet” which itself is a euphemistic term. Actually, euphemistic terms are found used in every aspect of society.
3. Causes of the changes
Those are mainly divided into two aspects: Extra-linguistic factors and Linguistic factors. Extra-linguistic factors include historical reason, class reason and psychological reason. Historical reason can be illustrated by the following examples:
A word is retained for a name though the meaning has changed because the referent has changed. (e.g. pen )
Increased scientific knowledge and discovery is also an important factor that underlies the change of word meaning. (e.g. atom)
As for class reason, language records the speech and attitude of different social classes, so different social varieties of language have come into being. The attitude of classes has made ioads into lexical meaning, particularly in the case of elevation and degradation. Quite a number of words that denote different sorts of working people or their occupations have deteriorated and now have taken on a pejorative sense. E.g. Churl, villain, hussy, wench which were originally neutral in color have been down-graded as “ill-manned or bad people”.
Besides, the associated transfer of meaning and euphemistic use of words, etc. is often due to psychological factors. People change word meaning owing to various psychological motives: love, respect, courtesy, suspicious, pessimism, sarcasm, irony, contempt, hatred, etc. The fact that some low, humble and despised occupations often take on more appealing names is all due to psychological reasons. Religious influence
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