Semantic Changesin EnglishSemantic Changesin English
Dr. Muhammad ShahbazDr. Muhammad Shahbaz
SEMANTIC CHANGESEMANTIC CHANGE
Semantic change – change in the meaning ofwords in the course of their development.Semantic change – change in the meaning ofwords in the course of their development.
Every word in its development has undergonemany semantic changes. There aredistinguished causes of semantic change,nature and results of the process ofchange of meaning.Every word in its development has undergonemany semantic changes. There aredistinguished causes of semantic change,nature and results of the process ofchange of meaning.
CAUSES OF SEMANTIC CHANGE CAUSES OF SEMANTIC CHANGE
Extra-linguistic causes are variouschanges in the life of speech community, i.e.changes in economic and social structure orscientific concepts. Extra-linguistic causes are variouschanges in the life of speech community, i.e.changes in economic and social structure orscientific concepts.
E.g. changes in the way of life of the Britishbrought about changes in the meaninghlaford meant ‘bread-keeper’ (хранительхлеба) and later on ‘master, ruler’(повелитель, лорд).E.g. changes in the way of life of the Britishbrought about changes in the meaninghlaford meant ‘bread-keeper’ (хранительхлеба) and later on ‘master, ruler’(повелитель, лорд).
Linguistic causesLinguistic causes
are factors acting within the language system.are factors acting within the language system.
1.ellipsis – the omission of one word in a phrase,e.g. the verb to starve in OE meant ‘to die’ andwas habitually used in collocation with the wordhunger.1.ellipsis – the omission of one word in a phrase,e.g. the verb to starve in OE meant ‘to die’ andwas habitually used in collocation with the wordhunger.
Later this verb itself acquired the meaning ‘to die ofhunger’.Later this verb itself acquired the meaning ‘to die ofhunger’.
2.discrimination/differentiation ofsynonyms, e.g. in OE the word landmeant both ‘solid of earth’s surface’and ‘the territory of a nation’.2.discrimination/differentiation ofsynonyms, e.g. in OE the word landmeant both ‘solid of earth’s surface’and ‘the territory of a nation’.
In the ME period the word country wasborrowed as its synonym. Themeaning of the word land was alteredand ‘the territory of a nation’ came tobe denoted by the borrowed wordcountry.In the ME period the word country wasborrowed as its synonym. Themeaning of the word land was alteredand ‘the territory of a nation’ came tobe denoted by the borrowed wordcountry.
3.One more linguistic cause ofsemantic change is called fixedcontext.3.One more linguistic cause ofsemantic change is called fixedcontext.
E.g. the word token brought intocompetition with the word sign andbecame restricted in use to anumber of set expressions, such aslove token, token of respect etc.and also became specialized inmeaning.E.g. the word token brought intocompetition with the word sign andbecame restricted in use to anumber of set expressions, such aslove token, token of respect etc.and also became specialized inmeaning.
CAUSES OF SEMANTIC CHANGECAUSES OF SEMANTIC CHANGE
Extra-linguistic LinguisticExtra-linguistic Linguistic
Ellipsis differentiation of synonyms fixed contextEllipsis differentiation of synonyms fixed context
RESULTS OF SEMANTIC CHANGE RESULTS OF SEMANTIC CHANGE
Changes of the denotational meaningChanges of the denotational meaning
Restriction of meaning can be illustrated bythe semantic development of the word houndwhich used to denote ‘dog of any breed’ butnow denotes only ‘a dog used in the chase’. Ifthe word with a new restricted meaning comesto be used in the specialized vocabulary ofsome limited group within the speechcommunity it is usual to speak of thespecialization of meaning.Restriction of meaning can be illustrated bythe semantic development of the word houndwhich used to denote ‘dog of any breed’ butnow denotes only ‘a dog used in the chase’. Ifthe word with a new restricted meaning comesto be used in the specialized vocabulary ofsome limited group within the speechcommunity it is usual to speak of thespecialization of meaning.
Extension of meaning may be illustrated bythe word target which originally meant ‘asmall round shield’ but now means ‘anythingthat is fired at’. If the word with extendedmeaning passed from the specializedvocabulary into common use, the result ofthe semantic change is described asgeneralization of meaning.Extension of meaning may be illustrated bythe word target which originally meant ‘asmall round shield’ but now means ‘anythingthat is fired at’. If the word with extendedmeaning passed from the specializedvocabulary into common use, the result ofthe semantic change is described asgeneralization of meaning.
Changes of the connotaional meaningChanges of the connotaional meaning
Amelioration of meaning implies theimprovement of the connotationalcomponent of meaning, e.g. the wordminister originally denoted ‘a servant’but now – ‘a civil servant of higherrank, a person administrating adepartment of state’.Amelioration of meaning implies theimprovement of the connotationalcomponent of meaning, e.g. the wordminister originally denoted ‘a servant’but now – ‘a civil servant of higherrank, a person administrating adepartment of state’.
Deterioration of the meaning impliesthe acquisition by the word of somederogatory emotive charge, e.g. theword boor was originally to denote‘a peasant’ and then acquired aderogatory connotational meaningand came to denote ‘a clumsy or ill-bred fellow’.Deterioration of the meaning impliesthe acquisition by the word of somederogatory emotive charge, e.g. theword boor was originally to denote‘a peasant’ and then acquired aderogatory connotational meaningand came to denote ‘a clumsy or ill-bred fellow’.
Results of Semantic Change
Change of the denotationalcomponent
Restriction Extension
of Meaning
Change of the Connotationalcomponent
Detrioration Amelioration
of Meaning
Words
Old English
Modern English
Fond
Foolish, Foolishly,Credulous
Loving,Affectionate, Kind
Glad
Bright, Shining
Pleased, Delighted
Husband
Master of the house
Man to whom awoman is Married
EllipsisEllipsis
to starve
OE steorfan – “to die” – sterven of hungerOE steorfan – “to die” – sterven of hunger
Modern E starve – “to die from hunger”Modern E starve – “to die from hunger”
dailydaily
daily – “happening every day” – a dailynewspaperdaily – “happening every day” – a dailynewspaper
daily – “a daily newspaper”daily – “a daily newspaper”
Discrimination of SynonymsDiscrimination of Synonyms
tidetide
OE tide – 1)”time” 2)”season” 3)”hour”OE tide – 1)”time” 2)”season” 3)”hour”
from French – time, season, hourfrom French – time, season, hour
Modern English tide – “regular rise and fall ofthe sea caused by the moon”Modern English tide – “regular rise and fall ofthe sea caused by the moon”
deerdeer
OE deor – “any beast”OE deor – “any beast”
animal – a borrowed wordanimal – a borrowed word
deer – “a certain kind of animal”deer – “a certain kind of animal”
Changes in DenotationalMeaningChanges in DenotationalMeaning
restriction ofmeanings(narrowing) –restriction of thetypes or referentsdenoted by the wordrestriction ofmeanings(narrowing) –restriction of thetypes or referentsdenoted by the word
e.g. OE “hound” – a dog ofany greede.g. OE “hound” – a dog ofany greed
Modern English “hound” – adog used in chaseModern English “hound” – adog used in chase
extension ofmeanings(widening) –application of theword to wider varietyof referentsextension ofmeanings(widening) –application of theword to wider varietyof referents
e.g. OE “trunk” – the mainstem of a treee.g. OE “trunk” – the mainstem of a tree
Modern English “trunk” – thebody of anythingModern English “trunk” – thebody of anything
Changes in Denotational MeaningChanges in Denotational Meaning
specialization - theword with a newmeaning (restricted)comes to be used inthe specializedvocabularyspecialization - theword with a newmeaning (restricted)comes to be used inthe specializedvocabulary
e.g. OE glide -“to movegently and smoothly”e.g. OE glide -“to movegently and smoothly”
Modern English “glide” -to fly with no engineModern English “glide” -to fly with no engine
generalization – theword with the extendedmeaning passes fromthe specializedvocabulary intocommon usegeneralization – theword with the extendedmeaning passes fromthe specializedvocabulary intocommon use
e.g. OE “salary” – moneygiven to soldiers to buy saltwithe.g. OE “salary” – moneygiven to soldiers to buy saltwith
Modern English “salary” –money paid to clerksModern English “salary” –money paid to clerks
Changes in Connotational MeaningChanges in Connotational Meaning
pejoration(degradation,degeneration) – a wordacquires some negativederogatory emotivechargepejoration(degradation,degeneration) – a wordacquires some negativederogatory emotivecharge
e.g. OE “boor”- a villager,a peasante.g. OE “boor”- a villager,a peasant
Modern English “boor” – aclumsy or ill-bred fellowModern English “boor” – aclumsy or ill-bred fellow
amelioration(elevation) –improvement ofthe connotationalcomponentamelioration(elevation) –improvement ofthe connotationalcomponent
e.g. OE “minister” – aservant, an attendante.g. OE “minister” – aservant, an attendant
Modern English “minister” – acivil servant of higher rankModern English “minister” – acivil servant of higher rank