3.3. Homonymy

Key words: homonym, homophone, homograph, semantic divergence, sound convergence, homoform.

Look up these terms in the glossary or in the sources indicated in the bibliography to the glossary. Compare the definitions given in English and in Russian.

Problems for Discussion

1. Homonymy as a kind of linguistic asymmetry and its restricted role in the lexicon. Homonymy constraints.

2. Ways of homonym formation:

1. diverging meaning development;

2. converging sound development;

3. word formation processes.

3. Classification of homonyms, criteria and taxonomies:

1. identity of form: homophones, homographs, perfect homonyms;

2. degree of formal identity: full and partial homonymy; homoforms;

3. type of differing meanings: lexical, lexico-grammatical, grammatical, derivational.

4. Related homonymy in English.

5. Homonymy and context.

Questions and Tasks

1. Compare the semantic relations between meanings of the following English forms and say whether they are meanings of polysemantic or homonymous words: blind, ear, heavy, mount, pen, point.

2. Study the etymology of the words poker 1 ‘stiff metal rod with handle, for poking fire’; poker 2 ‘card-game for two or more persons’; mean 1 a (Of quantity) equally far from two extremes, equally removed from two opposite (usu. blameworthy) extremes; mean 2 a 1 (Of capacity, understanding, etc.) inferior, poor 2 Not imposing in appearance, shabby 3 Ignoble, small-minded; malicious, ill-tempered 4 Niggardly, not generous or liberal.

3. Say on what the following puns are based:

– Why is a girl like a hinge?

– Because she is something to adore.

Recommended Reading

Арнольд, И.В. Лексикология современного английского языка / И.В. Арнольд; на англ. яз. – 3-е изд. – М.: Высш. шк., 1986. – C. 182–194.

Лексикология английского языка / Р.З. Гинзбург [и др.]; на англ. яз. – 2-е изд., испр. и доп. – М.: Высш. шк., 1979. – C. 39–46.

Смирницкий, А.И. Лексикология английского языка / А.И. Смирницкий. – М.: Изд-во лит. на иностр. яз., 1956. – С. 159–173.

Харитончик, З.А. Лексикология английского языка / З.А. Харитончик. – Минск: Вышэйш. шк., 1992. – С. 72–88.

Topic 4

The Structure of the English word

4.1. The Morphemic Structure of the English Word

Key words: morph – allomorph – morpheme, root (radical), affix, inflexion, paradigm, stem, immediate аnd ultimate constituents, monomorphic and polymorphic words.

Look up these terms in the glossary or in the sources indicated in the bibliography to the glossary. Compare the definitions given in English and in Russian.

Problems for Discussion

1. Morphology as the study of language forms. Inflexional vs. derivational morphology.

2. Morphology within generative grammar.

3. The speaker – hearer approach to the analysis of the word structure: morphemics vs. word formation.

4. The morpheme as the smallest meaningful unit. Principles and methods of morphemic analysis.

5. Difficulties of segmentation and classification of morphemes. Possible solutions.

6. Morphemic types of English words and their role in the lexicon and speech.