Lexicology and English Vocabulary Study

The study of the vocabulary of a language, examining its characteristics and specific phenomena.

Branch of lexicology focused on the history of words, including their origin and development.

Branch of lexicology that examines the vocabulary of a language at a specific point in time.

The art and science of compiling dictionaries, which involves documenting words and their meanings.

The study of how words are pronounced and spelled.

The study of how words are formed, including the combination of parts like prefixes and suffixes.

The study of the meaning of words and how they relate to each other.

The study of how the context influences the meaning of words.

A colorful figurative description or compound phrase in Old English, often used for poetic effect.

A term from Old Norse that refers to a colorful, figurative description often involving compounds.

The use of synonyms and compound words in Old English, which was more prevalent than in Modern English.

The formation of new words using only native elements, without borrowing from other languages.

The use of inflections (word endings that change meaning) to express grammatical relationships in Old English.

The decline of inflections in Old English due to changes in word stress.

A word or phrase translated directly from another language, preserving the original word order and structure.

Words or phrases translated directly from Latin into Old English.

The period in English history (450-1066) where Anglo-Saxon tribes introduced their language, marked by the Beowulf epic poem and the influence of Christian missionaries.

The writing system used in Old English, featuring the absence of capital letters, distinct letter shapes, and the lack of certain letters like j, v, f, q, x, and z.

A significant literary work from the Old English period, a heroic poem composed around the year 1000, narrating the epic battles of a warrior named Beowulf.

The period in English history following the Norman Conquest in 1066, which was marked by the fusion of Old English and Norman French languages, resulting in a transformation of the English vocabulary.

The period in English history starting in the late 15th century, characterized by a flourishing of literature and the influence of the Renaissance, contributing significantly to the growth of the English vocabulary.

The current stage of the English language, marked by the continuous evolution of vocabulary and influenced by various global factors.

The study of how language interacts with social factors, such as cultural norms and social groups.

Words borrowed from other languages to fill gaps in English vocabulary for specific concepts, creatures, objects, or institutions.

A period when one civilization's language becomes widely adopted for a specific field due to its leadership in that field.

The practice of using words borrowed from languages like Latin and Greek to enhance English vocabulary, especially in literature and poetry.

The concern of writers and scholars about the inadequacy of English for expressing complex ideas and emotions, particularly in poetry.

A period of time where English writers and scholars sought to improve the language by incorporating words from Latin and Greek, aiming to make English more sophisticated.

The use of Arabic words in English, primarily in the fields of science and Islamic religion.

Words in English borrowed from Arabic related to science, such as alchemy, alcohol, algebra, and zenith.

Words in English borrowed from Arabic related to Islamic religion, such as Koran, imam, caliph, and Ramadan.

The Norman kings, while ruling England, retained control of Normandy in France, expanding their French possessions significantly. This led to a situation where Henry II (1154–1189) was not only King of England but effectively ruled a large portion of France.

Due to intermarriage and growing contact, the Normans gradually assimilated into English society, becoming more deeply integrated. This led to the upper classes learning English, though initially with limited proficiency and mainly in specific situations.

French initially dominated as the language of prestige in England, especially among the upper classes. However, it transitioned into a primarily written language as English gained prominence in everyday usage.

The medieval era saw a significant infusion of approximately 10,000 French words into English. These borrowings primarily enriched vocabulary in areas like government, nobility, law, and warfare.

King John's loss of Normandy in 1204 marked a turning point, significantly weakening the position of French in England.

The Hundred Years' War between England and France (1337–1453) forced English ruling classes to embrace English as the language of governance, finally ending the linguistic dominance of French.

Even after the Norman Conquest, the adoption of French words in English persisted. This trend is attributed to the positive image of France associated with its culture, lifestyle, sophistication, and social relations.

The use of French words in English was seen as projecting a positive image of France, its culture, lifestyle, sophistication, and social relations.

Words that have the same meaning but differ in form depending on their grammatical function. For example, "sheep" can be singular or plural, but the word itself stays the same.

The smallest unit of meaning in a language. It is a set of words that share the same basic meaning and form. For example, "sheep" is a lexeme, and it includes both the singular and plural forms, though the word itself stays the same.

The ability of words to move around in a sentence without changing the overall meaning, but potentially affecting emphasis.

The fixed internal structure of a word. The order of its elements cannot be changed. For example, the order of the morphemes in the word ``impossibility'' cannot be reversed.

The branch of lexicology that studies the general principles of words and vocabulary, regardless of specific languages.

The smallest meaningful unit of a given language. It is formed by combining a sound or set of sounds with a unique meaning and grammatical function.

The process of associating a specific meaning with a group of sounds or letters to create a linguistic unit with a specific grammatical function.