Word-meaning may change in the course of the historical development of the language and 2 processes: the change of meaning; the development of meaning.
Semantic change is the process old semantic extension resulting in complete replacement of the old meaning by a new one or when the initial meaning is completely lost and replaced by a new one. Development of meaning is a change in the number and arrangement of word meanings without a single meaning disappearing with semantic structure.. By extralinguistic causes we mean various changes in the life of speech community.
common linguistic factors:
1 ellipsis — in a phrase made up of 2 words, one of the words is omitted and its meaning is transferred to the remaining word. e.g.: a tobacco-pipe originally — a pipe then.
2 discrimination of synonyms. E.g.: land — OE both solid part of the earth + the territory of a nation; ME the word country was borrowed from Fr. they became synonymous. But then land lost one of its meanings and now country prevails.
3 linguistic analogy. If one of the members of the synonymic set acquires a new meaning the other members of this set change their meanings too. e.g.: catch — grasp — get.
A necessary condition of any semantic change is some association between the old meaning and a new one.
2 types of associations: similarity of meanings metaphor; contiguity of meanings metonymy.
Metaphor — is the semantic process of associating 2 referents; one of which in some way resembles the other. e.g.: hand — 16th c. pointer of the clock. Sometimes it maybe the similarity of forms the tongues of fire. Some linguists state that a metaphor is similarity of form and not function. Metonymy — is the semantic process of associating 2 referents; one of which makes part of the other or is closely connected with it. e.g.: bench — acquired the meaning of judges because they sat at the benches.
All the types of semantic change depend on some comparison of the earlier and a new meaning of a word. It may be based on the difference between the concepts expressed or the reference in the real word. Types:
1 Specialization of meaning narrow ingrestriction of meaning — the restriction of the typesrange of reference denoted by the word. e.g.: fowl — OE any bird; ME only domestic.
2 extension of meaning broadening generalization — the application of the word to a wider variety or reference. e.g.: target — small around shield; now — anything that is aimed at.
3 Degeneration degradation pejoration of meaning. This is the acquisition by the word of some derogatory emotive charge. e.g.: boor — a villagera peasant; than it acquired a contemptible connotation — an ill-bread fellow.
4 Amelioration elevation. The improvement of the connotational component of meaning. e.g.: minister — a servant attendant; now — its connotation improved — a person administering a department.
