Chapter 7 Language change

语言学

Chapter 7 Language changeAll languages change through time slowly, where languages have written forms, it’s possible to see it’ the actual changes that have taken place. Old English 450—1150 450— Middle English 1150--1500 1150--1500 Modern English earlier version1500– 1700 version1500–latter version 1700– up to now 1700–

English changes in phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicon and semantic elements of grammar.

语言学

Chapter 7 Language changeSound change (systematic vowel change) Morphological and syntactic change Vocabulary change

语言学

7.3 Morphological and syntactic change7.3.1 Change in “agreement” rule agreement” April (his it) 7.3.2 Change in negation rule “not” at the end of affirmative sentence not” Precede the main verb, and a “do” do” 7.3.3 Process of simplification ure/urum(old ure/urum(old ) oure (middle) our (modern) 7.3.4 Loss of inflections old English modern English stan/stanas stone/stones gear/gear year/years

语言学

Vocabulary changeWhen we say we know a language, we mean he knows what words and morphemes there are in that language. Addition of new words Loss of words Changes in the meaning of words

语言学

Addition of new wordsCompounding + derivation coinage(创新词) coinage(创新词) clipped words(缩略词) words(缩略词) blending(紧缩法) blending(紧缩法) acronyms(词首字母缩略词) acronyms(词首字母缩略词) back-formation(逆构词法) back-formation(逆构词法) functional shift borrowing

语言学

Coinage----A ----A new word can be coined outright to fit some purpose, e.g. walkman Kodak Xerox( Xerox(静电复印机) Ford Benz Toyota Many new coinages are very short-lived for the shortdiscontinuation of the object they name. soap-flake soap-

语言学

Clipped words----The ----The abbreviation of longer words or phrases, e.g. gym— gym—gymnasium memo— memo—memorandum disco— disco—discotheque fridge— fridge—refrigerator dozer— dozer—bulldozer (推土机) (推土机)

语言学

Blending----A ----A blend is a word formed by combining parts of other words, e.g. Smog — smoke + fog Motel — motor + hotel Camcorder — camera + recorder

语言学

Acronyms----Acronyms ----Acronyms are words derived from the initials of several words, e.g. CBS---CBS---- Columbia Broad casting system ISBN----International ISBN----International Standard Book Number WTO WHO PLA IDD UCLA AIDS UNESCO APEC OPEC CAD SARS

语言学

BackBack-formation----New ----New words may be coined from already existing words by “subtracting” an affix thought subtracting” to be part of the old word. edit editor hawk hawker(沿街叫卖者 hawker(沿街叫卖者 ) beg beggar babybaby-sit baby-sitter abybutch butcher

语言学

Functional shift----Words ----Words may shift from one part of speech to another without the addition of affixes, e.g. Noun verb: to knee, to bug, to tape, to brake… brake… Verb noun: a hold, a flyby, a reject, a retreat… retreat… Adj. verb: to cool, to narrow, to dim, to slow… slow… Adj. noun: a d

aily, a Christian, the rich, the impossible… impossible…

语言学

Borrowing----When ----When different cultures come into contact, words are often borrowed from one language to another. The following are some of the loan words in English(see more in P100-101). P100-

Latin bonus education exit Greek tragedy cycle physics French prince question coup d’etat(政变) d’ 政变) German beer waltz (华尔兹 ) quartz (华尔兹 Chinese tea kowtow sampan(舢板,小船) sampan(舢板,小船) Russian sputnik(人造地球卫星 ) sputnik(人造地球卫星 commissar (人 (人 民委员(前苏联政府部长)) 民委员(前苏联政府部长)) vodka Arabic zero algebra alcohol

语言学

BorrowingMany of the borrowed words have been carefully assimilated into the English vocabulary and native speakers are not aware of their being not native. E.g., ceiling, judge, crime, court….etc court… Some loan words are not immediately assimilated, especially some technical terms. E.g., fungus fungi nebula nelulae radius radii

语言学

7.4.2 Loss of wordsWords can be lost from a language as time goes by. The following words, taken from Romeo and Juliet, have faded out of the English language. Beseem to be suitable Wot to know Gyve a fetter(给…上脚镣,束缚 ) fetter(给…上脚镣, Wherefore why

语言学

7.4.2 Loss of wordsThe loss of words takes places gradually, while the arrival of new words is quite obvious and often draws attention. Reason: the discontinuation of the object they name.Soap flakes, wash board, rumble seat They areon the way out

语言学

7.4.3 Changes in the meaning of wordsWidening of meaning Narrowing of meaning Meaning shift