3.5.4 Lexical Change Flashcards
Types of lexical change. 2
Innovative
Inventive
Types of innovative lexical change. 7
Blending Clipping Compounding Conversion Derivation Back formation Reduplication
Blending
Eg
When two existing words are fused to make one new word
Eg smog
Clipping
Eg
When part of a word is removed, but the meaning is still the same
Eg gym
Compounding
Eg
When two existing words are stuck together as they are to form a new word
Eg icecream
Conversion
Eg
When the word class of an existing word has changed Eg text
Derivation
Eg
Adding a suffix to change the word class of a word Eg texting
Back formation
Eg
Removal of a morpheme in order to change the word class of an existing word Eg enthusiasm
Reduplication
Eg
Repetition of words which are the same or very similar
Eg nitty-gritty
Types of inventive lexical change
Eg
Neologising Borrowing Acronymising Initialising Eponyming
Eponyming
Eg
Forming a new word based on a brand or a persons name
Eg hoover
Initialising
Forming a new word with the first letter being used as initials, pronounced separately
Eg bbc
Acronymising
Forming a word using the first letter as initials, pronounced as one
Eg NATO
Borrowing
Words taken from another language
Eg gateau
Neologising
Coining a new word
Inkhorn terms
Pretentious and artificial Latin and Greek terms being criticised
Change from above
Language changed from those in authority
Change from below
Groups without power changing language
S curve model
Users pick up language change at a gradual rate before it accelerates and spreads into wider usage before slowing down again and stabilising
Wave model
Geographical distance has an impact on language change spread
Random fluctuation theory
Random mistakes and events lead to language change
Lexical gaps
When a word that could exist, doesn’t exist but may be present in other languages
Substratum theory
English language changes through contact with other languages
Functional theory
Language changes and adapts according to the needs of its users
Eg archaism
