5 Definition of the Word. Characteristics of Words.

Word is the principal and basic unit of the lang system, the largest on the morphologic and the smallest on the syntactic plane of linguistic analysis. It has been universally acknowledged that a great many ws have a composite nature and are made up of morphemes. The four types (root, derived ws, compound, shortenings) represent the main structural types of ME ws.According to the number of morphemes ws can be classified into monomorphic and polymorphic. Monomorphic or root-ws consist of only one root-morpheme, e.g. small, dog, make. All polymorphic ws fall into two subgroups: derived ws and compound – according to the number of rootmorphemes they have. Derived ws are composed of 1 rootmorpheme and 1 or more derivational morphemes (acceptable, disagreeable) Compound ws are those which contain at least 2 rootmorphemes, the number of derivational morphemes being insignificant. There can be both root and derivational morphemes in compounds as in pen-holder,light-mindedness, or only root-morphemes as in lamp-shade, eye-ball, etc.

6Synchronic and Diachronic Study of Vocabulary.

There are two principle approaches in ling science to the study of lang material : synchronic & diachronic . With regard to Special L the synchronic approach is concerned with the voc of a lang as it exists at a given time. Its Special Descriptive L that deals with the voc & voc units of a particular lang at a certain time. The diachronic approach in terms of Special L deals with the changes & development of voc in the coarse of time. It is Special Historical L that deals with the evaluation of the voc units of a lang as the time goes by. The two pproaches are interconnected & interrelated because every ling structure & system exists in a state of constant development so that the synchronic state of a lang system is a result of a long process of ling evaluation , of its historical development .

7 Paradigmatic and Syntagmatic Relations btw Words. Syntagmatics – linear (simultaneous) relationship of ws in speech as distinct from associative (non-simultaneous)  relationship of ws in lang.Paradigmatics – 1) associative relationship of ws in lang as distinct from linear (simultaneous) relationship of ws in speech (syntagmatics); relation of units in absentia (syn, antonymic relations); 2) an approach to lang when the els of its system are regarded as associated units joined by oppositional relationship.Paradigmatic relationships between ling els can be established by use of thesubstitution test at the vertical level. Thus the initial consonants in beer, deer, peer form a paradigmatic class, as well as words such as today and tomorrow in the sentence: She will arrive today/tomorrow. Syntagmatic relationships are defined by the ability of els to be combined horizontally(linearly), the relationship between She will arrive and today. De Saussure called paradigmatic relationships ‘associative’ relationships, because they represent the relation btw individual els in specific environments with such els in the memory which can potentially replace them. The distinction btw paradigmatic and syntagm relations is relevant to all levels of description; cf. in semantics the paradig semantic relations (such as synonymy and antonymy) vs the synt relations btw lexemes in selectional restrictions