Theme # 3: “Semantic change” (2 hours)

Subtheme # 1: “Semantic causes”

Case study tasks:

1. When we deal with the change of meaning we come across with three factors. They are _

2. Comment on types of causes, then rank them to their importance. Prove your answer with certain thoughts and ideas, if possible give examples.

Problematic tasks:

1. Define the differences between verbal and non-verbal causes of semantic change.

2. Prove your point of view on what type of cause is productive one.

3. State out the reasons why words acquire new meanings.

4. Say what factors stimulate that the meanings of words change.

5. Comment on each type of cause.

Subtheme # 2: “Nature of semantic change”

Case study tasks:

1. Explain the logical associations in the following groups of meaning for the same words. Define the type of transference which has taken place.

A. the wing of a bird-the wing of a building; the eye of a man-the eye of a needle; the hand of a child-the hand of a clock; the heart of a man-the heart of the matter; the bridge across the river-the bridge of the nose; the tongue of a person-the tongue of a bell; the tooth of a boy-the tooth of a comb; the coat of a girl-the coat of a dog.

B. green grass-green years; black shoes-black despair; nickel (metal)-a nickel (coin); glass-a glass; copper (metal)-a copper (coin); Ford (proper name)-a Ford (car); Damascus (town in Syria)-damask; Kashmir (town in North India)-cashmere.

2. Choose the examples of metonymy and give characteristic features of metonymy contrasting with metaphor.

Knight, villain, saxophone, eye of a needle, boycott, the city, china, marshall, foot of the mountains, mother country, a glass, the branch of a science.

3. Pick up metaphors from the following word-combinations and prove that they belong to this group.

Green bush, green man, green apple, green with envy, the root of a word, a fading flower, blooming health, mother country, the saxophone, china, the branch of a science.

Problematic tasks:

1. State out the types of nature of semantic change.

2. Explain the main functions of metaphor and metonymy, then give examples.

Subtheme # 3: “Results of semantic change”

Case study tasks:

1. When we deal with semantic change we come across with three factors as cause, nature and result. Evaluate each factor and give important features.

2. There are given some examples of semantic change. Explain what type of semantic change do they belong. Prove your answer and give the differentiating features.

e.g. knight-originally meant a boy, then a young servant, then a military servant, then a noble man

marshal-originally meant a horse man, now it is the highest military rank

e.g. villain-originally meant working on a villa, now it means a scoundrel

gossip-originally meant god parent, now a chat one’s personal life or matters

3. There are given some examples of semantic change. Explain what type of semantic change do they belong. Prove your answer and give the differentiating features.

e.g. the City-business part of London, Oxford-university town in England, the Tower-originally a fortress and palace, later a prison, now a museum

e.g. person-originally a mask used by an actor, now chairperson, policeperson, salesperson, workperson

4. Match the change of word meaning with their equivalents and comment on each of them.

1) specialization of meaning

2) pejoration of meaning

3) generalization of meaning

4) amelioration of meaning

1. extension

2. widening

3. narrowing

4. degradation

5. elevation

6. common use

7. worse in the course of time

8. better in the course of time

9. for definite purpose

Problematic tasks:

1. Give the differences between generalization and specialization, what are the reasons of it.

2. Give the differeces between pejoration and amelioration of meaning, what are the reasons of it.

3. Evaluate the causes and facts what makes the meaning of the words change.