Semantic Shifts Flashcards
What are semantic shifts
Where a word remains within the language but changes its meaning overtime
Amelioration
Where a word adopts a positive meaning
Example of an amelioration
Wicked = good
although used to mean bad/evil
Pejoration
Where a word adopts a negative meaning
Example of a pejoration
Gay = bad
(before used to refer to homosexuals)
(before that used to mean happy and carefree)
Narrowing
Where a words meaning becomes more specific
Example of narrowing
Meat - used to mean all food, but now only refers to animal flesh
Broadening
Where a words meaning becomes wider
Example of broadening
Bird - used to mean young bird or fledgling, but now refers to all birds in general
Weakening
When words lose some of the force/strength that they originally had
Example of weakening
soon - used to mean immediately rather than in the near future
Metaphors
Where words acquire new meaning because they begin to be used metaphorically
Example of metaphor
Used to be related to sailing, but now can be used elsewhere:
high and dry , clear the decks
What do you need to remember when a word changes?
Usually there is more than one process happening at once.
e.g. when a word takes on a metaphorical meaning, it is also broadening
Metonymy
When a word associated with an object is used for the object itself
Example of metonymy
cash: used for money box -> now used for money itself
Idioms
Sayings which don’t make sense if you translate them.
They usually have a factual, literary or historical basis
Example of an idiom
It’s raining cats and dogs
Where did the example of the idiom come from?
A time when drainage was inadequate and after it had rained very heavily the cats and dogs would have drowned in the flood and their bodies left on the ground
Euphemism
Use of alternative words/phrases in replace for something which may come across as offensive
Example of a euphemism
For death:
kicking the bucket, pushing up daisies
Cliché
When an idiom is used a lot they become clichés (overused phrases) which do not have as much of an impact anymore
