Process of Language change
1. Borrowing
- Introducing words from one language to another
- Mentioned borrowed words are called loanwords (most load words from frm
french and latin due to historical reasons)
2. Semantic change:
i.
Narrowing:
➢ Meaning of a word becomes less general and more restricted over
time
➢ E.g. meat (any kind of food)-> food from animal flesh
➢ To starve (to die) -> only die from hunger
ii.
Broadening:
➢ The meaning of a word becomes more general and less restricted
over time
➢ E.g. Guy (Guy Fawkes) -> any man of ugly appreance -> any man
iii.
Pejoration:
➢ The meaning of a word becomes more negative that it orignally
was.
➢ E.g. disease (discomfort) -> illness
➢ Awful (full of awe) -> very bad of terrible
iv.
Amelioration:
➢ Meaning of a word becomes more positive than it orignally was.
➢ Terrific (inspiring terror) -> anything spectacular
➢ E.g. meat (any kind of food)-> food from animal flesh
➢ To starve (to die) -> only die from hunger
3. Lexical Change
i.
Derivation:
➢ The process of forming a new word from an existing word, by
adding a suffix or prefix
➢ E.g. Unhappy
ii.
Coinage:
➢ Creating new words
➢ These new words are called neologisms
iii.
Compounding:
➢ Combining 2 words into 1
➢ Note + notebook = notebook
iv.
Blending:
v.
USED IN PAPER 3
➢ Combining the beginning of one word and the end of another
➢ Breakfast + lunch = brunch
Clipping:
➢ Shortening Words
➢ Celebrity -> celeb