Seminar 3

“Theories of Meaning”

Discussion:

1. Different approaches to the definition of word meaning:

a) referential theory;

b) conceptual theory;

c) functional theory.

2. Types and aspects of meaning:

a) lexical meaning and grammatical meaning;

b) semantic, pragmatic, syntactic /systemic/ aspects of lexical meaning.

3. Componential analysis:

a) its history;

b) its types;

c) its merits and demerits.

Practice:

Practicum – Tasks 48,49, pp.277.

Literature:

1. Современный английский зык (слово и предложение). – Иркутск, 1997. – С. 150-162.

2. The Issues in Englis Philology (Study Manual). – Irkutsk, 1998.- P.51-53.

3. Arnold I.V. The English Word. – М.: Высш. шк., 1986. – Р.37-42, 47-50, 57-59.

4. Ginzburg R.S., Khidekel S.S. Knyazeva G.Y., Sankin A.A. A Course in Modern English Lexicology. – M.: Higher School Publishing House, 1966. – P.22-35.

5. Антрушина Г.Б., Афанасьева О.В., Морозова Н.Н. Лексикология английского языка. – М.: Дрофа, 1999. – С. 115-120.

Practice: Task 48

What unites the following words?

1. lexical meaning;

2. grammatical meaning;;

3. lexical meaning and grammatical meaning?

1. Deprived, arrived, decayed, described

2. Fast, quick, rapid, swift

3. forget-me-nots, radii, Russians, oxen

4. to buy, to sell, price, money, expensive

Task 49

Carry out the componential analysis of these words by using an appropriate combination of the semantic features.

1. Man a) “human”

2. Boy b) “animal”

3. Woman c) “male”

4. Girl d) “female”

5. Bull e) “adult”

6. Cow f) “non-adult”

7. Calf g) “ ovine”

8. Boar h) “bovine”

9. Sow i) “porcine”

10. Piglet

11. Ram

12. Ewe

13. lamb

Seminar 4

“Semantic Change”

Discussion:

1. Causes of semantic change:

a) extra linguistic causes (historical, social, psychological);

b) linguistic causes (ellipsis, differentiation of synonyms, fixed context, linguistic analogy).

2. Nature of semantic change. Types of associative relationships. Metaphor and metonymy.

3. Results of semantic change:

a) generalization, specialization;

b) amelioration, pejoration.

Practice:

Practicum – Tasks 56-60, 62-73, pp.287-327.

Literature:

1. Современный английский зык (слово и предложение). – Иркутск, 1997. – С. 162-174.

2. The Issues in Englis Philology (Study Manual). – Irkutsk, 1998.- P.53-54.

3. Arnold I.V. The English Word. – М.: Высш. шк., 1986. – Р.60-76.

4. Ginzburg R.S., Khidekel S.S. Knyazeva G.Y., Sankin A.A. A Course in Modern English Lexicology. – M.: Higher School Publishing House, 1966. – P.41-48.

5. Антрушина Г.Б., Афанасьева О.В., Морозова Н.Н. Лексикология английского языка. – М.: Дрофа, 1999. – С. 147-160.

Practice: Task 56

Find the synonymous terms in the list:

1. amelioration 10. generalization

2. differentiation of synonyms 11. discrimination of synonyms

3. degradation 12. broadening

4. extension 13. deterioration

5. elevation 14. widening

6. worsening 15. specialization

7. restriction 16. degeneration

8. melioration 17. narrowing

9. pejoration 18. Bettering