Change of meaning

Sometimes, the process of transference may result in a considerable change in range of meaning. For example, the verb “ to arrive” was borrowed from French in a narrow meaning “ to come to shore, to land”. In Modern English it has considerably widened its combinability and developed the general meaning “to come ”. The meaning developed through transference based on contiguity (the concept of coming somewhere is the same for both meanings), but the range of the second meaning is much wider.

Extension (widening of meaning) is the extension of semantic capacity of a word, i.e. the expansion of polysemy in the course of its historical development, e.g. manuscript originally meant “ written by hand”. It is interesting to trace the history of the word “girl” as an example of the changes in the range of meaning in the course of the semantic development of a word. In Middle English it had the meaning of “a small child of either sex”. Then the word underwent the process of transference based on contiguity and developed the meaning of “ a small child of a female sex”, so that the range of meaning was somewhat narrowed. In its further semantic development the word gradually broadened its range of meaning. At first it came to denote not only a female child but, also, a young unmarried woman, later, any young woman, and in modern colloquial English it is practically synonymous to the noun woman. Cf.: in Ukrainian the word стріляти originally meant “випускати стрілу із лука”, and now it has broadened its range of meaning and now it means “стріляти з будь-якої зброї, що вражає на відстані ”, «стріляти очима».

Narrowing of meaning is the restriction of the semantic capacity of a word in the historical development. Here are some examples of narrowing of meaning:

deer: any beast-a certain kind of beast;

Meat: any food- a certain food product

Boy: any young person of male sex- a servant of male sex

It should be pointed out that in all words the second meaning developed through transference based on contiguity, and that when we speak of them as examples of narrowing of meaning we simply imply that the range of the second meaning is more narrow than that of the original meaning.

Elevation (or melioration) is the semantic change in the meaning of a word which rises it from humble beginning to a position of greater importance, e.g. “minister” in old times meant simply “servant”.

Degradation (or degeneration) of meaning is a semantic change, by which, for one reason or another, a word falls into disrepute, or acquires some derogatory emotive charge, e.g.: silly originally meant “happy”. These terms do not mean degeneration or elevation of the meaning itself, they mean degeneration or elevation of referent to which the word is transferred. E.g.: gossip: God parent – the one who tells slanderous stories about other people. The second meaning, in contrast with the one from which it developed, denotes a person of bad repute or character. Semantically speaking, the second meaning developed a negative evaluative connotation which was absent in the first meaning. Such a readjustment in the connotative structure accompanying the process of transference can be observed in all cases if changing in the meaning of words. It can be either positive or negative. Positive changes in evaluative connotation are seen in such an example: fond: foolish- affectionate, loving; tory - a highwayman – a member of the Tories; knight – a man servant – a noble, courageous man.

Thus, the changes in the denotational component brings about the extension or restriction of meaning. The change in the connotational component may result in degradation – pejorative or ameliorative development of meaning.

Дата добавления: 2014-01-11