4.Types of word meaning. Word meaning and motivation

Types of word meaning(classification): according to the aspect relation of a word to the components of the situation where it is used: Referential meaning – determined by the relation of linguistic sign to the referent in the material world. Significative meaning – determined by the relation of a linguistic sign to the user, the speaker’s intention. Differential (systematic) meaning – determined by the relation of the given linguistic sign to other signs in the language system of speech. Another typology is based on the conception of word meaning as specific structure: Part – of- meaning (functional) Grammatical – may be defined as the component of meaning recurrent in identical sets of individual forms of different words. Lexical-may be described as the component of meaning proper to the word as a linguistic unit, i.e. recurrent in all the forms of this word. Emotional implications – personal, studied by pragmatics. Emotive charge – may be inherent in word meaning or created by prefixes & suffixes. Stylistic reference – refers the word to a certain style register (neutral, colloquial, literary). This may be best illustrated by comparing words almost identical in their denotational meaning.

Motivation is the suggestion of the meaning of the word by the lexical form of the word. Morphological motivation: implies a direct connection between the lexical meaning of the component morphemes, the pattern of their arrangement & the meaning of the word. The degree of morphological motivation may be different varying from the extreme of complete motivation to lack of motivation. Phonetical motivation: implies a direct connection between the phonetic structure of the word & its meaning. Phonetical motivation is not universally recognised in modern linguistic science. It is argued that speech sounds may suggest spatial and visual dimensions, shape, size. Semantic motivation: implies a direct connection between the central & marginal meanings of the word. This connection may be regarded as a metaphoric extension of the central meaning based on the similarity of different classes of referents denoted by the word.

5. Change of meaning in English

Word-meaning is liable to change in the course of the historical development of language. Causes of Semantic Change 1) extra-linguistic — various changes in the life of the speech community, changes in economic and social structure, changes in ideas, scientific concepts, way of life and other spheres of human activities as reflected in word meanings 2) linguistic —. factors acting within the language system ellipsis (In a phrase made up of two words one of these is omitted and its meaning is transferred to its partner. differentiation of synonyms, linguistic analogy — if one of the members of a synonymic set acquires a new meaning other members of this set change their meanings too. Generally speaking, a necessary condition of any semantic change, no matter what its caused, is some connection, some association between the old meaning and the new. There are 2 kinds of association involved as a rule in various semantic changes namely: 1) Similarity of meanings or metaphor – a semantic process of associating 2 referents, one of which in some way resembles the other. 2) Contiguity of meanings or metonymy – the semantic process of associating 2 referents on of which makes part of the other or is closely connected with it.

Results of semantic change can be generally observed in the changes of the denotional meaning of the word ( restriction & extention of meaning) or in the alteration of its connotational component ( amelioration & deterioration of meaning). Changes in the denotion al meaning: 1) restriction of types or range of referents denoted by the word. – specialisation of meaning – if the word with the new meaning comes to be used in the specialised vocabulary of some limited group within the speech community it is usual to speak of.. 2) extention of meaning application of the word to a wider variety of referents. – generalisation of meaning – the word with the extanded meaning passes from the specialised vocabulary into common use.

Changes in the connotational meaning: 1) pejorative development – acquisition by the word of some derogatory emotive charge.. 2) ameliorative development – improvement of the connatayional component of meaning.