自考[英语词汇学]复习资料第7章

自考《英语词汇学》复习资料第七章2006-9-14 【大 中 小】　　第七章　　Vocabulary is the most unstable element of a language as it is under-going constant changes both in form and content.　　The content is even more unstable than the forms.　　Word-meaning changes by modes if extension， narrowing， degradation， elevation and transfer. of these， extension and narrowing are by far the most common.　　1.Extension （generalization）——is a term referring to the widening of meaning. It is a process by which a word， which originally had a specialized meaning， has now become generalized.　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Manuscript handwriting any author’s writing whether written by hand or typed　　with a type-writer or a word-processor　　Fabulous resembling a fable incredible， marvelous　　Barn a place for storing only barley storeroom　　Picture painting include “drawings” and even “photographs”。　　Mill place for grinding into flour place where things are made　　Journal daily paper periodical　　Butcher one who kills goats one who kills animals　　Companion one who shares bread a company　　。 A large proportion of polysemic words of modern English have their meanings extended sometimes in the course of development. Some words are generalized to such an extent that they can mean almost anything.　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Thing a public assembly or a council anything　　Business， concern， condition， matter， article， circumstance　　。 Technical terms　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Alibi （a legal term） plea that the accused is not at the place excuse　　When the crime is committed　　Allergic （a medical term） too sensitive to medicine averse or disinclined to　　Feedback （computer term） response　　。 From proper nouns　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Lynch the Lynch’s Law kill without lawful trial　　Sandwish a gambler’s name to denote a kind of fast place or squeeze between　　Food　　Vandal a member of an East Germanic tribe malicious destruction of a thing　　A person of such behaviour　　V. vandalize　　Adj. Vandalic/vandalistic　　n. vandalization/vandalism　　2. Narrowing （specialization） ——is a term referring to the shrinking of meaning. It is a process by which a word of wide meaning acquires a narrower or specialized sense.　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Deer animal　　Corn grain maize　　Garage any safe place a place for storing cars　　Liquor liquid alcoholic drink　　Disease discomfort illness　　Poison drink poisonous drink　　Wife woman a married woman　　Accident event unfortunate event　　Girl young person of either sex female young person　　。 Turn into a proper nouns　　The City business center of London　　The Peninsula Iberian Peninsula　　The Prophet Mohammed　　。 For economy， some phrases are shortened and only one element of the original is left to retain the meaning of the whole.　　e.g. a private = a private solider　　a general = a general officer　　an editorial = an editorial article　　。 Material nouns　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Silver silver dollars　　Glass cup-like container or mirror　　Iron device for smoothing clothes　　3.Elevation or amelioration——refers to the process by which words rise from humble beginnings to positions of importance.　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Nice ignorant —— foolish delightful， pleasant　　Marshal / constable keeper of horses high-ranking army officer / policemen　　Angle messenger messenger of God　　Knight servant rank below baronet　　Earl men count　　Governor pilot head of a state　　Fond foolish affectionate　　Minister servant head of ministry　　Shrewd evil， wickedness smart　　Nimble be good at taking things without permission smart　　Chamberlain servant high official of royal courts　　Success result　　4. Degradation or pejoration of meaning ——It is a process whereby words of good origin fall into ill reputation or non-affective words come to be used in derogatory sense.　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Boor peasant rude， ill-mannered person　　Churl peasant / free man uncultivated or mean person　　Wench country girl prostitute　　Hussy housewife woman of low morals　　Villain person who worked in a villa evil or wicked person or scoundrel　　Silly happy foolish　　Knave boy dishonest person　　Lewd ignorant lecherous　　Criticize appraise find fault with　　Lust pleasure sexual desire　　5. Transfer —— words which were used to designate on thing but later changed to mean something else.　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Paper an African plant papyrus　　。 Associated transfer　　E.g. the lip of a wound　　The tongue of a bell　　The nose of a plane　　Purse for money， dish for food， glass for cup　　。 Between abstract and concrete meaning　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Aftermath second crop of grass after mowing consequence， result　　Hope e.g. Clinton is the hope of the family.　　。 Between subject and objective meaning　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Pitiful full of pity deserving pity　　Dreadful / hateful subject meaning objective meaning　　Fearful/ doubtful / suspicious subject and objective meaning　　。 Transfer of sensations　　E.g. clear-sounding （from sight to hearing）　　Loud colours （from hearing to sight）　　Sweet music （from taste to hearing）　　6. Extra-linguistic Factors　　1. Historical reason　　。 A word is retained for a name though the meaning has changed because the reference has changed.　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Pen feather　　Car two-wheel cart drown by horses and used automobile　　in war　　Computer person who computes electronic machine　　。 Increased scientific knowledge and discovery are also important factors　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Sun the luminous heavenly body-one of the star around which the earth and other planets revolve　　seven planets revolving around the earth　　Atom any of the indivisible particles not the smallest and can be divided into even smaller　　particles　　2. Class reason. Language is just like a mirror， reflecting everything that exists in human society. It records the speech and attitude of different social classes. As a result， different social varieties of language have come into being.　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Churl， hussy， wench， villain ill-mannered or bad people　　Democracy， revolution， liberalism， human rights， communism different meaning in different societies and to different　　People　　3. Psychological reason. The associated transfer of meaning and euphemistic use of words are often due to psychological factors. people change word-meaning owing to various psychological. Religious influence is another kind psychological need.　　Word old meaning now meaning　　Copperhead a venomous snake　　7. Linguistic factors　　1. Shortening　　Gold for gold medal　　Gas for coal gas　　Bulb for light bulb　　Private for private solider　　2. Borrowing　　Deer / animal / beast　　Pig / pork， sheep / mutton， cattle / beef　　Bird / fowl， dog / hound， boy / knave， chair / stool　　3. Analogy　　Fortuitous happening by chance， accident fortunate　　Fruition a pleasure obtaining from using or possessing something　　词汇学并不是很难过，至少是比较死的东西，背背书就可以了。但要是想pass的话，整本书看是芍药看过三遍。否则不可能过的。　　看书的过程中会有新的知识点出现，千万不要漏记哦！