Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the term for the phenomenon where a word's meaning changes due to a shift in the external world or how we see it?
What is the term for the phenomenon where a word's meaning changes due to a shift in the external world or how we see it?
- Semantic change
- Change in extralinguistic reality (correct)
- Folk etymology
- Language contact
Which of the following is NOT a reason why a word's meaning might change?
Which of the following is NOT a reason why a word's meaning might change?
- Fixed and unchanging rules of grammar (correct)
- Human creativity and a desire for expressiveness
- Taboo or euphemism
- The influence of a different language
In the example "shamefast > shamefaced", what linguistic phenomenon is illustrated?
In the example "shamefast > shamefaced", what linguistic phenomenon is illustrated?
- Arbitrariness
- Folk etymology (correct)
- Semantic change
- Language contact
What term describes pairs of words that have similar forms but different meanings in two languages, often leading to misunderstandings?
What term describes pairs of words that have similar forms but different meanings in two languages, often leading to misunderstandings?
Which feature of language, as described in the text, allows for the potential for language change?
Which feature of language, as described in the text, allows for the potential for language change?
Which of the following is an example of complementary antonymy ?
Which of the following is an example of complementary antonymy ?
Which of the following options are examples of cognates?
Which of the following options are examples of cognates?
Which language family does English belong to?
Which language family does English belong to?
What is the name of the reconstructed ancestor of the Indo-European language family?
What is the name of the reconstructed ancestor of the Indo-European language family?
What is the name of the Indo-European branch that English belongs to?
What is the name of the Indo-European branch that English belongs to?
Which of the following is not a historically attested language of the Indo-European family?
Which of the following is not a historically attested language of the Indo-European family?
What year did the migration of Angles and Saxons into Britain begin?
What year did the migration of Angles and Saxons into Britain begin?
What is the name of the period in which the Germanic tribes invaded Britain, and Old English began to form?
What is the name of the period in which the Germanic tribes invaded Britain, and Old English began to form?
What year did the Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England take place?
What year did the Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England take place?
During what period was Old English written?
During what period was Old English written?
How many cases were there in Old English grammar?
How many cases were there in Old English grammar?
Which of the following words were not borrowed from Latin into Old English?
Which of the following words were not borrowed from Latin into Old English?
Which of the following Old English words were not a loan translation from Latin or Greek?
Which of the following Old English words were not a loan translation from Latin or Greek?
Which of the following is not a feature of Old English?
Which of the following is not a feature of Old English?
What is the name of the influential language contact situation that led to the development of English?
What is the name of the influential language contact situation that led to the development of English?
What is the name of the Latin alphabet letter which was used in Old English, but is not used in Modern English?
What is the name of the Latin alphabet letter which was used in Old English, but is not used in Modern English?
Flashcards
Semantic Change
Semantic Change
The process by which the meaning of a word evolves over time.
False Friends
False Friends
Words in different languages that appear similar but have different meanings.
Arbitrariness
Arbitrariness
The lack of inherent connection between symbols and their meanings in language.
Openness
Openness
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Cultural Transmission
Cultural Transmission
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Semantics
Semantics
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Synonymy
Synonymy
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Antonymy
Antonymy
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Hyponymy
Hyponymy
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Hyperonym
Hyperonym
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Metaphor
Metaphor
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Metonymy
Metonymy
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Comparative Linguistics
Comparative Linguistics
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Cognates
Cognates
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Lexical Similarity
Lexical Similarity
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Structural Similarity
Structural Similarity
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Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia
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Language Borrowing
Language Borrowing
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Genetic Relation
Genetic Relation
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Proto-Indo-European
Proto-Indo-European
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Indo-European Language Family
Indo-European Language Family
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Migration Period
Migration Period
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Old English
Old English
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Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England
Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England
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Loanwords
Loanwords
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Inflexional Grammar
Inflexional Grammar
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Study Notes
Semantics
- Semantics is the study of meaning in language.
- Paradigmatic semantics examines the relationships between words.
- Example of paradigmatic semantics includes synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy.
- Synonymy refers to the near-sameness of meaning (e.g., mist, fog).
- Antonymy demonstrates the oppositeness of meaning (e.g., small–large).
- Hyponymy showcases class inclusion (e.g., duck-billed platypus – mammal – animal).
Semantic Change
- Semantic changes occur in language over time.
- Examples of important types of semantic change include metaphor, metonymy, specialisation' and generalisation.
- Metaphor: a figure of speech where a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. (e.g., Old English "weorpan" for "throw" to "warp" twist)
- Metonymy: a figure of speech where one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated. (e.g., Old English "sælig" for "blissful" to mean "pious")
- Specialisation: a semantic change where a word's meaning narrows down. (e.g., "steorfan" - to die, to starve to die from lack of food)
- Generalisation: a semantic change where a word's meaning broadens. (e.g., "unkemfed" for "not combed" to unkempt "untidy")
- Language change is influenced by reality, contacts with other languages and creativity from speakers.
History of the English Language
- The English language has evolved over time.
- The break-up of the Proto-Indo-European speech community started around 3000 BCE.
- Celtic settlements on the British Isles occurred in the 1st millennium BCE.
- The Roman conquest of Britain happened in 43 CE.
- The migration period saw West Germanic tribes arriving in Britain in ~449 CE bringing the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes.
- This period led to the formation of Old English.
- The Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England happened in 597.
- Old English, a West Germanic language, is characterised by a large corpus of texts written in Latin.
- Old English grammar is characterised by four cases and three genders.
Comparative-Historical Linguistics
- Comparative linguistics examines similarities between different languages.
- Similarities between language structures and basic vocabulary are explained by common ancestry.
- Shared origins are called cognates (e.g., English "one", Latin "unus", and Ancient Greek "oiné").
- The Indo-European language family tree shows the relationships between different language branches.
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Description
Explore the key concepts of semantics, including paradigmatic semantics, synonymy, antonymy, and hyponymy. Understand the various types of semantic change, such as metaphor, metonymy, specialization, and generalization, along with their examples. This quiz will challenge your understanding of meaning in language and how it evolves over time.
