English Lexicology

English Lexicology

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Daniel Born, Ph.D.

Kaplan University, the United States

Elena Arsentiewa, Ph.D.

Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, the Russian Federation

Galia Fussell, Ph.D.

Kaplan University, the United States

Gulnur Polkina, Ph.D.

Naberezhnye Chelny Institute of Social-Pedagogical Technologies and Resources

Naberezhnye Chelny Institute of Social-Pedagogical Technologies and Resources

Editors:

Michael Keathley, Professor

Kaplan University, the United States

Aida Sadyikova, Ph.D.

Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, the Russian Federation

ISBN: 978-1-4507-9897

English Lexicology is an outstanding study guide, written by a team of the foremost scholars in the field. It is written in compliance with the curriculum and the syllabus of the course of English Lexicology. The guide has been carefully designed and is a unique coverage in the extent and depth of the main problems of English Lexicology in the light of the guiding principles of the modern Russian and Western linguistics. The study guide represents theoretical concepts and clearly organized around the major subject areas of English Lexicology that are introduced by the leading linguists of the world.

This guide is intended for the English Lexicology course for undergraduate and graduate students who major in linguistics and pedagogy.

Preface

M.A.K. Halliday’s in-depth study of the words used in the English language expanded on the notions Winston Churchill introduced in his voluminous History of the English Speaking People. Lexicology (the study and description of a body of words) ends as lexicography (the compilation of these descriptions into a single reference work). However, the journey from the initial word of “lexicology” to another (“lexicography”) is both fascinating and yet quite timely.

The reason for the timeliness of this study becomes obvious in contemporary culture: for example, the absolute polarization that arises from one statement uttered by a Congressperson can lead to a debate lasting hours, days, and even weeks, and, if you have trouble believing this, just turn on the television and see what is being discussed in Congress, today.

The study of words (especially as exemplified in their use as tools of a culture) reflects a thought process and growth that cannot be easily explained. By reading – and applying – what is uncovered in this study, we serve as beneficiaries of the next step to learning – about ourselves and culture – that was begun by Churchill.

Jamie Thornton, Ph.D.

Kaplan University

Organization and Content

The book consists of nine parts. Part one begins with an introductory chapter that addresses such basic issues as defining lexicology, its object, and its relationship to other branches of linguistics. Further, it discusses several kinds of lexicology such as general lexicology, special lexicology, contrastive lexicology, historical lexicology, or etymology, and descriptive lexicology. It also briefly discusses methods and procedures of lexicological analysis.

The second part is devoted to discussion of the structure of the English lexicon. It addresses such areas as words and their associative fields; word families; word classes; and semantic, or lexical, fields. Part three focuses on the structure of the English vocabulary and analyzes it from synchronic and diachronic perspectives. It focuses on the history and development of the English language and language change.

Part four explores a word, starting with its different definitions. This part also discusses in detail morphological structure of words and identifies such elements as free and bound morphemes, discusses roots, affixes, stems, types of affixes (derivational and functional affixes). Such morphological processes as cliticization, internal change/alternation, suppletion, and reduplication are also discussed in this part. Part five is fully devoted to the word-forming processes such as compounding, reduplication, conversion, blending, eponyms, backformation, clipping, and acronyms and abbreviations.

Part six addresses the core area of lexicology such as semantics. Part seven focuses on sense relations such as similarity of sense, oppositeness of sense, related senses, and unrelated senses. It also analyses sense categories such as hyponymy and meronymy. It also briefly touches the topic of semantic deviance.

Part eight explores word groups and phraseology. This part is mostly written by Doctor Elena Arsentiewa. Part nine focuses on major differences between American and British variants of the English language. Part ten addresses a very important area of the English lexicology such as lexicography. It analyzes main types of dictionaries and their purposes. The book ends with the glossary and references, which are very helpful tools.

Fran Gregg, Master of Liberal Studies in English, Kaplan University