ETYMOLOGY
Deny A. Kwary, Airlangga University, http://www.kwary.net
What is Etymology?
(1) the study of the origin of words,
and
(2) the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
(1) The Origin of English Words
Native Vocabulary (the Anglo-Saxon Lexemes):
Grammatical words (in, on, be, that)
Lexical words (father, love, name)
Affixes (mis-, un-, -ness, -less)
Foreign Borrowings:
Over 350 languages are on record as sources of English present-day vocabulary
Foreign Borrowings
Latin  after the arrival of Christianity
bishop, church, priest.
Scandinavian  Viking invasion (8th Cent)
Egg, sky, window
French  Norman Conquest (11th Cent)
Warden, reward, mansion
Latin  End of Renaissance (16th Cent)
Borrowings in 18th – 19th Centuries
Australia: boomerang, kangaroo
New Zealand: kiwi, pakeha
Javanese: batik, lahar
Japanese: bonsai, geisha
Spanish: Puma, quinine
Inuit: kayak, igloo
Etc.
A Sample of New Words in the
Oxford Dictionary of English,
revised 2nd edition
boo
noun (US informal) a person's boyfriend or girlfriend.
Hinglish
a variety of English used by speakers of Hindi, characterized by frequent use of Hindi vocabulary or constructions.
Jilbab
a full-length outer garment, traditionally covering the head and hands, worn in public by some Muslim women.
spit
verb (black English) perform rap music.
(2) Semantic Change
Four kinds of semantic change:
Extension or generalization: A lexeme widens its meaning, e.g. doctrine.
Narrowing or specialization: A lexeme becomes more specialized in its meaning, e.g. engine
Amelioration: A lexeme develops a positive sense of approval, e.g. revolutionary
Pejoration or detorioration: A lexeme develops a negative sense of disapproval, e.g. villain
The semantic change of the word:
hot spot
1. A place of political danger.
2. A lively nightclub.
3. An area on the screen which can be clicked on to start an operation such as loading a file.
4. An area where you can get connected to the Internet through a wireless network.
Exercise #1 Word Origin
1. Guru
2. Entrepreneur
3. Buffet
4. Rector
5. Tycoon
6. Propaganda
7. Genius
Internet Activity:
Find out the history and the meaning of the following words
1. Antimacassar
2. Boycott
3. Carnival
4. Scrabble
5. Hamburger
6. Jumbo
That’s All For Today
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