13. Assimilation of borrowed words.

1.) dinner, cup (1 в. до н.э.)

2.) government, distance (12-13 в.)

These two groups of words are borrowed words. The first group have undergone the process of assimilation. Borrowed words don’t remain the same in the language. They get assimilated in the language. The degree of assimilation depends on the time of borrowing. The words of the first group are Latin borrowings of the first century. They are completely assimilated in the language. They are the borrowings of the earlier period. The word of the second group are partially assimilated in the language. They are the borrowings of the later period.

Borrowed words get assimilated in 3 main fields: phonetic, grammatic and semantic. The degree of phonetic assimilation is best shown by comparing Norman French and Parisian French borrowings. N.F. words don’t look as French as a rule, they are often completely assimilated. As for P.F. borrowings they are partially assimilated. EG: ballet

Grammatic assimilation consists in a complete change of the paradigm of the borrowed word. EG: delicious – more delicious – the most delicious (образ. степ. сравн. как в англ. языке => слово ассимилируется). cup-cups. Some of the borrowed words are still in the process of grammatical assimilation. EG: formula (-as – разговор.),(-ae – научн.) plural

By semantic assimilation we understand the adjustment of the word to the system of meanings of the Eng. vocabulary.

EG: the word “large” was borrowed from French in the meaning “широкий”. But in the Eng. vocabulary there already was an adjective with the same meaning (“wide”). The word “large” entered in a group of words meaning “big” in size. At first the word “large” was used when speaking about objects which were horizontally “large”.

But then it changed its meaning and now it can be used when speaking about any object and it is close in meaning to the adjective “big”.

14. The concept of linguistic meaning. Lexical meaning and its aspects.

R eferent – референт (объект действительности, на который направлено влияние)

связь между формой и объектом опосредована.

Значение слова-это отражеие в мозгу человека объекта когда устанавливается связь между лингвистической формой и содержанием. Word meaning is studied by a special branch of lexicology called “semantics”. The definition of “word meaning” can be given on the basis of the so-called referential approach to the meaning. Word meaning may be represented as a model. The three components of the model are: referent, concept and linguistic form. The linguistic form is connected with the concept. Through this concept with an object of reality which is the referent. That means there is no direct connection between the ling. form and referent.

So, word meaning is the reverberation in the human mind object of reality which becomes a fact of language when a constant connection is established between this revebration and a certain ling. form. It is a specific form of revebration, the one which is connected with linguistic expression (man). If we take this component away then we’ll be speaking in terms of any science, but not linguistic.

How to define lexical meaning?

EG: 1.) He goes, sleeps, cries. 2.) go, goes, went, going…

In the first example grammatical meaning is the same. In the second example lexical meaning the same, that is the meaning which we find in all the forms of the word (the meaning of motion).

Lexical meaning and its aspects. There are three aspects of lexical meaning: 1.) denotational 2.) connotational 3.) pragmatic. The first one is the most important, it refers to the notional basis of the information. This info is conveyed from the speaker to the listener. EG: 1.) I’ll bring the book, don’t worry. 2.) I’ll bring the revolver, don’t worry. In this sentences the subject matter of communication is different. This aspect of meaning helps to realize the nominal function of the language. The connotational aspect present the attitude of the speaker to what he is speaking about. It’s additional information. EG: 1.) Jack assured us that the play was interesting. 2.) Jack said that for him the play was interesting. In N1 we are absolutely sure that the play is interesting. In N2 our attitude is different: the play is interesting for him, as for the rest we are not sure of that. The connotational aspect includes emotive charge, evaluation, expressiveness and imagery. Emotive charge may be shown by the words notorious. EG: 1.) He is famous for his books! 2.) He is notorious for his goings-on. In the second sentence by using the word “notorious” we disapprove of this person of his behavior.

Evaluation may be positive and negative. EG: aunty (тетушка) dog of a person (плохое поведение)

Expressiveness makes the effect produced on the listener stronger. EG: I saw a large snake. I saw a huge snake (“huge” denote very large. The effect is stranger)

Imagery is connected with our figurative understanding of the situation. EG: the prime-minister of the two countries tried to bridge the gap of misunderstanding, between the two countries.

In most cases all this elements of connotation are linked together, EG: (low col. – снижение разг. речи) You are an ass, Jack (ну и задница ты Джек)

The pragmatic aspect of lexical meaning gives about the situation of communication and about its participants. EG: we can learn about time and space relationships.

The core of this information is given by grammar tenses, but some information can be given by the semantics of the word. The pronoun “this” in the combination “this country” indicates the country speaker is at the moment. EG: (In this country English is learnt everywhere) !!! So, all these aspects are realized in our speech.