semantic change Flashcards
1
Q
what is neosemy?
A
- a words gains a new meaning
2
Q
example of neosemy
A
‘gay’ - meaning joyful to labelling a homosexual
3
Q
what is pejoration?
A
a word gaiins a negative meaning
4
Q
example of pejoration
A
‘villain’ - used to mean farm worker
5
Q
what is narrowing?
A
- a word gains a more specific meaning
6
Q
example of narrowing
A
‘wife’ - used to refer to all women
7
Q
what is broadening?
A
a word gains a less specific and more general meaning
8
Q
example of broadening
A
‘holiday’ - holy day
9
Q
what is weakening/bleaching?
A
a word closes its original power
10
Q
example of weakening/bleaching
A
‘thing’ - old english referred to a meeting or assembly
11
Q
what is pejoration?
A
a word gains a more positive meaning
12
Q
example of pejoration
A
‘pretty’ used to mean sly/cunning
