Lexicology 07-09-23 конспект

Lexicology

Working definitions of principal concepts

The term lexicology is of greek origin. Lexic is the word, logos is learning. Lexicology is the part of linguistics which deals with the vocbulary and characteristic features of words and word groups.

The term vocabulary is used to denote the system of words and word groups that the language posseses

The term word denotes the main lexical unit of language resulting from the assosiation of a group of soundswith a meaning. It’s is the smallest unit of language which can stand alone

The term word group denotes a group of words which exists in the language as a ready-made unit. Has the unity of meaning and the unity of senthetic function (as loose as a goose)

Lexicology as the brunch of linguistics has it’s own aims and methods. Its’ basic task being a study and systematic description of vocabulary. Lexicology is conserned with words, word groups, phraseological units and with morphemes that make up words.

There are two principal approaches in linguistic science: synchronic (together) and diachronic (through). The syncronic approach is concerned with the vocabulary of a language ad it exists at a given time. Diachronic approach is concerned with the vocabulary of a language that exists within the years. Through diachronic approach we can see the changes and the development of vocabulary in the course of time.

Language units

The main unit of the lexical system of a language resulting from the assosiation of a group of sounds with a meaning is a word. A word however can be divided into smaller units – morphemes. The morpheme is the smallest meningful language unit. Morphemes are divided into two large groups. Lexical morphemes and grammatical morphemes. Both lexical and grammatical can be free and bound. Free lexical morphemes are roots of words which express the lexical meaning of the word. The coincide with simple words. Bound lexical morphemes are affixes (preffixes and syphixes). Splinters are the result of clipping the end of the beginning of a word and producing a number of new words on the analogy. Splinters have 1 function – they serve to change the lexical meaning of the same part of speech. The main functions of suffixes is to form one part of speech from another part of speech. For example -er, -ing and -ment form nouns from verbal stems.

Structural types of words

According to the nature and number of morphemes there are different structural types of words in english. Simple, derived, compound and compound-derived.

Simple words

Consist of 1-root morpheme and an inflection. In many cases it is 0. For e.g. – seldom, chairs, longer, asked.

Derived words

Consist of 1-root morpheme, 1 or several affixes. For e.g. unemployed, derestricted

Compound words

Consist of 2 ore more-root morphemes and an inflection. For e.g. baby-moons, wait-and-see

Compound-derived words

Consist of 2 ore more-root morphemes, 1 affix and an inflection. For e.g. jobhopper

The stem is the part of the word which remains unchanged. For e.g. the stem – hop can be found in the words hop, hops, hopped nd hopping

We can draw the conclusion that in modern english the following language units can be mentioned: morphemes, splinters, words, word combinations and sentences.

Primary ways of word-building

Word-building id one of the main ways of enriching vocabulary.

4main ways of word-building:

1.Affixation

Is one of the most productive ways of wordbuilding throughout history of english. It consists in adding an affix to the stemof a definite part of speech. Affixation is diveded into suffixation and prefixation.

Suffixation – the main function of suffixes in modern english is to for 1 part of speech from another. The secondary function – to change the lexical meaning of the same part of speech. For e.g to educate – education.

There are different classifications of suffixes:

Part of speech classification (suffixes which can form different parts of speech) –

•noun forming suffixes – er, ism

•adjective forming suffixes – able, ous, less

•verb forming suffixes – ify, ize

•adverb forming suffixes – ly

• numeral forming suffixes – teen, ty

Semantic classification

Suffixes changing the lexical meaning of the stem can be sub-divided into groups:

the agent of the action – the suffix -er, -ist, -ent

nationality – ian, ese, ish

collectivity – ship

quality – ity

Lexico-grammatical character of the stem

Suffixes which can be added to certain groups of stems can be sub-divided into:

suffixes added to verbal stems – er, ing, able, ment, ation

suffixes added to noun stems – less, full, ism, ish

suffixes added to adjective stems – ish, ly, en

According to the origin suffixes can be:

native or germanic – er, ful, less, ly

romanic – tion, ment, able, eer

greek – ist, ism, ize

russian – nik

Productivity

Here we can point out:

productive suffixes – er, ize, ly, ness

semi-productive – eer, ette, word

non-productive – ard, th

While speaking about suffixes we should also mention compound suffixes which are added to the stem at the same time – ably, ibly, ation

Prefixation

Formation of words by means of adding prefix to a stem. In english it is characteristic for forming verbs. Prefixes are more independent than suffixes. Prefixes can be classified according to the nature of words in which they are used. Prefixes used in notional words and prefixes used in functional words. Prefixes used in notional words are proper prefixes – un, prefixes used in functional words

they are also morphemes and they are met in the language as words – over. The main fuction of prefixes in english is to change the lexical meaning of the same part of speech. Prefixes can be classifies according to different principles.

2.Composition

3.Conversion

4.Abbreviation

Secondary ways of wordbuilding:

1.Sound interchange

2.Stress interchange

3.Sound imitation

4.Blends

5.Back formation