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5. Causes, nature and results of semantic change

Word meaning is liable to change in the course of the historical development of language. There are distinguished causes of semantic change, nature and results of the process of change of meaning.

5.1 Causes of Semantic Change. The factors accounting for semantic changes may be roughly subdivided into two groups: a) extra-linguistic b) linguistic.

By extra-linguistic causes various changes in the life of the speech community are meant, i. e. changes in economic and social structure, changes in scientific concepts. For example, changes in the way of life of the British brought about changes in the meaning hlaford. Originally the word meant 'bread-keeper' («xpaнитель хлеба »), and later on master, ruler' («noвелитель, лорд»).

Some changes of meaning occur due to purely linguistic causes, i. e. factors acting within the language system.

1.The commonest form which this influence takes is the so-called ellipsis. In a phrase made up of two words one of these is omitted and its meaning is transferred to its partner. For example, the verb to starve in Old English (OE) meant 'to die' and was habitually used in collocation with the word hunger. In the 16thcentury the verb to starve itself acquired the meaning 'to die of hunger'.

2.Another linguistic cause is discrimination/differentiation of synonyms, which can be illustrated by the semantic development of a number of words. In OE the word land meant both 'solid part of earth's surface' and 'the territory of a nation'. In the Middle English period the word country was borrowed as its synonym. The meaning of the word was somewhat altered and 'the territory of a nation' came to be denoted by the borrowed word country.

3. Fixed context may be regarded as another linguistic factor in semantic change. For example, the word token, when brought into competition with the loan word sign, became restricted in use to a number of set expressions, such as love token, token of respect and also became specialized in meaning (Diagram 7).

CAUSES OF SEMANTIC CHANGE

Linguistic Extra-linguistfc

Ellipsis Differentiation of synonyms Fixed contexts

5.2 Semantic changes have been classified by different scientists. The most complete classification was suggested by a German scientist Herman Paul in his work «Prinzipien des Sprachgeschichte». It is based on the logical principle. He distinguishes two main ways where the semantic change is gradual- (specialization and generalization),

two momentary semantic changes - (metaphor and metonymy) and also secondary ways: gradual (elevation and degradation), momentary (hyperbole and litotes).

Main- Gradual (specialization and generalization),

momentary - (metaphor and metonymy)

secondary ways: gradual- (elevation and degradation),

momentary- (hyperbole and litotes).