英語詞匯學講義

1、Chapter one Introduction1.1 What Is Lexicology?Lexicology is a branch of linguistics dealing with the vocabulary of a language and the properties of words as the main units of language. Lexi- meaning 'word, phrase

2、9;, hence lexicons - 'having to do with words', and -logos which denotes 'a department of knowledge'. Thus, the literal meaning of lexicology is the 'science of the word'.1.2 Its Relation to Oth

3、er DisciplinesEnglish lexicology itself is a subbranch of linguistics. But it embraces other academic disciplines, such as general linguistics, morphology, semantics, etymology, stylistics, phonetics, lexicography and hi

4、story of the people. Each of them has been established as a discipline in its own right.1.3 The Theoretical Basis for the Investigation of Modern English LexicologyTo investigate any linguistic problem and to study any p

5、articular language without a correct theoretical basis, the result is by no means successful.1.3.1 The Theoretical Basis: Dialectical Materialism and Historical MaterialismThis theoretical basis explains with remarkable

6、clarity and precision the essential nature of language as a social phenomenon, its relation to thought and fundamental laws of its development.1.3.2 Some Fundamental Ideas to Be Clarified at the Outset1.6.1 The Old Engli

7、sh (Anglo-Saxon) PeriodSome Characteristics of Old English:1) The pronunciation of Old English differs somewhat from that of their modern equivalents 2) The vocabulary of Old English is an almost purely Teutonic.3) Old E

8、nglish is a language of full inflections.1.6.2 The Middle English Period The Middle English period extends from 1150 to 1500. The characteristics of Middle English:1) Middle English resembles Modern English more closely

9、than Old English2) The Middle English vocabulary differs from that of Old English.3) The disintegration of the complicated AS inflectional system.Chapter Two Sources of the English Vocabulary2.1 Elements Making Up the En

10、glish Vocabulary2.1.1 The Native Element in Modern English1) Characteristics of the native elementThe native element has the following characteristics:a. All-national character: Every English person uses the words of the

11、 native element.b. Great stability: the native element lives for centuries providing the English with a basis for the formation of new words.c. Native element: The native element in Modem English is mostly monosyllabic.

12、d. Word-forming ability: The great stability and semantic peculiarities of Anglo- Saxon words account for the great word building power.e. Wide collocability: Many native words enter quite a number of set expressions, id

13、ioms, phrases and proverbial sayings.f. Plurality of meanings: Most of the native words have undergone striking transformations in semantic structure, and are nowadays highly polysemantic.g. High frequency value: The na

14、tive element (words of Anglo-Saxon origin) forms the bulk of the most frequent elements used in any style of speech. h. Stylistically neutral: Most native words are stylistically neutral.2) The relation between the nati