Lexicology and English Vocabulary Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What does the German word 'Tier' translate to in English?

  • both animal and beast (correct)
  • animal
  • creature
  • beast

Which historical event significantly influenced the English vocabulary with a number of French words?

  • The Renaissance
  • The American Revolution
  • The Industrial Revolution
  • The Norman Conquest of 1066 (correct)

Which group of words entered the English language during its early contact with the Romans?

  • Celtic words
  • Norman words
  • Latin-Greek words (correct)
  • Germanic words

Which of the following categories did not significantly contribute to the historical strata of the English vocabulary?

<p>Everyday objects (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these words is derived from the Scandinavian influence on the English language?

<p>cast (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of lexicology?

<p>The study of vocabulary and the relationships between words (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the term 'lexicon' technically defined in the context discussed?

<p>As the vocabulary of a language or branch of knowledge (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which dictionary entry best reflects the definition of lexicology?

<p>The study of the stock of words and their uses (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the term 'dictionary' considered somewhat narrow in its definition of lexicon?

<p>It lacks the comprehensive scope of words in a language (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of language does lexicology particularly focus on?

<p>Generalizations and regularities among words (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the lexicon and vocabulary is true?

<p>Lexicon encompasses structural relationships, while vocabulary is more general. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a common misunderstanding about lexicology?

<p>It deals only with the definitions of words. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes lexicology from lexicography?

<p>Lexicology focuses on vocabulary structure, while lexicography deals with individual word placements. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is required in analyzing derivationally complex words?

<p>Collecting 18 affixes and 36 words (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which option describes a task involving the morpheme im-/in-?

<p>Checking whether im-/in- is a morpheme for each listed word (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a suggested reason for the frequent misspelling of the word 'input' as 'imput'?

<p>Lack of phonetic awareness (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect do the words in the given list share according to the task?

<p>They contain the same morpheme (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do AdjP, AdvP, and PP have in common?

<p>They function as phrases in sentences (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What forms of word building are hinted at in the content?

<p>Affixation and derivation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many distinct homonymous forms of im-/in- are mentioned in the task?

<p>The text does not specify (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one method suggested for enriching the English vocabulary?

<p>Employing word-building techniques (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defining characteristic distinguishes Old English from Modern English?

<p>Full inflections (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which period is classified as Early Modern English?

<p>16th-17th century (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate date range for Middle English?

<p>1100-1500 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Old English differ from Modern English in terms of language type?

<p>Old English was a synthetical language (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During which period did English experience a process of simplification in its inflectional system?

<p>Modern English (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the transition from Old to Modern English signify in terms of grammar?

<p>Movement from synthesis to analysis (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of the Modern English period?

<p>Lost endings and simplified inflections (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which branch of languages does English belong to?

<p>Western Low Germanic branch (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of language did Richard Chenevix Trench primarily focus on in his studies?

<p>The semantic evolution of English words (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term best describes the structure that includes the internal relation of lexical items?

<p>Morphological structure (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does lexicology relate to phonetics?

<p>Via the examples of stress-shifting in word formation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Ralph Emerson suggest about language?

<p>Language can be seen as a representation of past poetry. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the relation between lexicology and grammar is correct?

<p>The interaction between vocabulary and grammar is complex and varied. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is described as a complex structure in the lexicon?

<p>Morphological relations (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the title of Trench's work published in 1850?

<p>On the Study of Words (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a separable compound in relation to lexicology?

<p>Greenhouse vs. green house (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary language spoken in Britain before the Anglo-Saxon invasions?

<p>Celtic (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What linguistic legacy did the Roman invasion leave in Britain?

<p>Place names ending in -chester (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which event marked the end of the Old English period?

<p>The Norman invasion (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one effect of the Anglo-Saxon invasions on the Celtic communities?

<p>Celtic communities were assimilated and pushed back (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a tribe involved in the Anglo-Saxon invasions?

<p>Visigoths (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How much influence did the Celtic language of Roman Britain have on the Anglo-Saxon language?

<p>No influence, only a few Celtic words came into English (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these was a characteristic of Old English vocabulary?

<p>It included words from other Indo-European languages (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the reasons for the decline of Celtic identity in eastern and southern Britain?

<p>The assimilation into Anglo-Saxon society (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Lexicology

The study of the vocabulary, meaning, and usage of words in a language.

Lexicon

The total stock of words in a language, including all their meanings and variations.

Dictionary

A detailed collection of words and their meanings, often for a specific language or time period.

Lexical Structure

The analysis and explanation of the structure and organization of words in a language.

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Interconnectedness of words

Words are not isolated items in a language but connect and interact in meaningful ways.

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Generalizations and Regularities

Lexicologists examine patterns and rules governing word usage and meaning.

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Structure over Agglomeration

Lexicology focuses on the overall structure and organization of a language's vocabulary.

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Vocabulary as a System

Lexicology goes beyond simply listing words; it examines their relationships and underlying principles.

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Language Mixing

The concept that all languages are a mix of influences from other languages to varying degrees. This mixing can be from historical contact, conquest, or cultural exchange.

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Historical Strata

The historical layers or periods of influence that have shaped a language's vocabulary. Each layer represents a time of significant contact or change in a language's evolution.

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Norman Conquest Influence

The period after the Norman Conquest of 1066 when numerous French words were adopted into English, significantly influencing the vocabulary, especially in legal, religious & political spheres.

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Central Core of Vocabulary

Words that are so common and used frequently in a language that they are considered part of its core vocabulary.

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Synchronic Stratification

The study of the structure and arrangement of a language's vocabulary at a specific point in time, examining the different categories and layers of words.

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Semantic evolution

The study of word meanings and their evolution over time.

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Lexical semantics

The study of word meanings and how words relate to each other.

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Polysemy

Words can have multiple meanings, making them complex.

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Semantic fields

Words can be grouped together based on shared meanings.

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Syntagmatic relations

The study of how words combine and interact in sentences.

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Internal structure of words

The internal structure of words, analyzing their parts.

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Morphological structure

Words can be formed by combining smaller units.

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Word formation

The study of how words are created and change over time.

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What is Lexicology?

The study of the vocabulary, meaning, and usage of words in a language.

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What is Lexicon?

The total stock of words in a language, including all their meanings and variations.

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What is Affixation?

The process of adding affixes (prefixes and suffixes) to words to create new words with different meanings.

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What is Prefixation?

Adding prefixes like 'un-', 're-', 'in-' to words, changing their meanings.

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What is Suffixation?

Adding suffixes like '-ing', '-ly', '-ness', '-er', '-ment' to words.

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What is Compounding?

The combination of two or more independent words to form a new word like 'blackboard'.

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What is Shortening?

A word formed by shortening a longer word like 'phone' from 'telephone'.

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What is Conversion?

A word formed by changing one part of speech to another, like 'run' (verb) to 'runner' (noun).

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Periods of English Language History

Old English, Middle English, and Modern English are the three main periods of English language history. They are marked by significant changes in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

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Old English (OE)

Old English (OE) is the earliest stage of English, characterized by a fully inflected grammatical system, meaning words had many different endings depending on their function in a sentence.

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Middle English (MidE)

Middle English (MidE) is the period after the Norman Conquest, marked by the simplification of the Old English grammatical system and the introduction of many French words.

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Modern English (ModE)

Modern English (ModE) is the current stage of English and is characterized by a simplified grammatical system, loss of many inflections, and a more analytical structure.

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Synthetical Language

A synthetical language is one where grammatical relationships are expressed through inflections on words. Old English is an example.

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Analytical Language

An analytical language is one where grammatical relationships are expressed through word order and separate function words like prepositions and articles. Modern English is an example.

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Evolution of English Language

The evolution of the English language has been a process of simplification where inflections have been lost and the language has become more analytical.

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English Language Family

The English language belongs to the Indo-European family and originates from the Germanic branch, specifically the Western Low Germanic group.

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Old English Period

The period in English history when the Anglo-Saxons invaded Britain, significantly influencing the language and culture. It lasted from the 5th to the 11th century.

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Anglo-Saxons

A group of Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) who invaded and settled in Britain, forming the foundation of modern English language and culture.

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Old English

The language spoken by the Anglo-Saxons in Britain during the Old English Period.

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Indo-European words

Words that were already present in the Indo-European language family before the development of Old English.

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Borrowed Words

This refers to words in Old English that come from other languages, such as Celtic, Latin, or Scandinavian.

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Old English Vocabulary

The vocabulary used during the Old English period, reflecting the influences of different historical events and languages.

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Study Notes

AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH LEXICOLOGY

  • Course book for 1st year English students enrolled in the long-distance programme
  • Authored by Elena Buja
  • Published in 2010

Introduction

  • Course aims to present key aspects of English vocabulary.
  • Covers lexical structure and lexical items.
  • Examines English vocabulary diachronically (evolution of language over time) and synchronically (language at a given point in time).
  • Includes research on word-formation, metaphor, metonymy, and lexical strata (especially colloquial English).

Aims of the course

  • Familiarizes students with elements of the English lexicon.
  • Explains that English vocabulary comprises both diachronic and synchronic layers.
  • Provides insights into enriching a language's lexicon.
  • Demonstrates how word form and meaning change over time due to various factors.
  • Explains relationships between words based on meaning.
  • Introduces appropriate lexical items for specific registers.

Competences

  • Students gain awareness of word structure and relationships among words in English.
  • Students gain basic understanding of English language history and vocabulary expansion.
  • Students understand principles of language change and understand sound changes and meaning.

Resources

  • Internet access required for e-mail assignments.
  • Access to online dictionaries to complete tasks.
  • Students will need a good English dictionary.

Structure of the Course

  • 10 units, each lasting approximately 2.5 hours of study.
  • 3 assignments are to be completed after specific unit milestones.
  • Assignment 1: after unit 5
  • Assignment 2: after unit 7
  • Assignment 3: after unit 10.
  • All assignments must be completed in printed format and also submitted electronically via email.

Prerequisites

  • Basic knowledge of linguistics is beneficial for understanding the material.

Evaluation

  • The final mark is composed of the end-of-term exam (55%) and three assignments (45%, 15% each).

Contents (Partial List)

  • Sections on lexicology definition, English lexicon structure, relations to other linguistics branches, lexical units, structure & classification, diachronic approaches to English vocabulary (Old English, Middle English and Modern English periods), and a synchronic approach to English vocabulary.

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English Lexicology Course - Past Materials

Description

Test your knowledge of lexicology and its relation to the English vocabulary. This quiz covers key concepts, influences on the English language, and definitions related to lexicon and dictionaries. Explore how historical events shaped the words we use today.

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