Changes of Word Meaning in English英语词义的演变.docVIP

Changes of Word Meaning in English英语词义的演变 Abstract Vocabulary is the most unstable element of a language as it is undergoing constant changes both in form and content. Comparatively, the content is even more unstable than the form. Of course, some meanings remain much the same for a long time because the referents to which they direct us do not change. Often, an old form or group of forms are pressed into new service when a new linguistic need is felt. As Quirk asserts”…almost every word we use today has a slightly different meaning from the one it had a century ago: and a century ago it had a slightly different meaning form the one it had a century before that”. Language, as a tool for transmitting human ideas, is always changing with the development of society. Among linguistic aspects, the change of words is the fastest and most prominent, which is reflected on the creating neologism, abandonment of its original meaning, borrowings and change of word meaning. Certainly, changing in word meaning has never ceased since the language came into being and it will continue in the future. This paper will discuss in some detail the major patterns and the causes of changes.(1978:130) Key words: word meaning; changes; cause; English; patterns; ways 摘 要 词的形式和内容总是处于变化之中，是语言中最不稳定的因素。不过相比之下，词的内容比形式更不稳定。当然有些词的意义在很长一段时间内由于所指未变而没有发生变化。有时，由于语言发展的需要，出现了旧词换新义的情况。Quirk认为，“…我们今天所使用的几乎每个词的词义都与一个世纪以前的词义有所不同；一个世纪以前的词义与前一个世纪的词有所不同。”（1918：130） 人类社会一直在不断发展变化，语言作为人类表达思想和交流思想的工具也在不断发展变化。在语言诸要素中，词汇的变化最快，最显著，它表面在新词的产生和旧词的消亡，借用外来词和旧词添新义。语言自产生以来其词义的变化从未停止，而且还会继续下去，本文将详细讨论词义变化的主要类型及其原因。 关键词：词义；词义的变化；词义演变的原因；词义的种类；英语;方式 Contents Abstract…………………………………………………………………… 摘要………………………………………………………………………… Contents…………………………………………………………………… Introduction…………………………………………………………………… 1. Types of word meaning changes厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖es of wo 1.1 Extension厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖nsiond meani 1.2 Narrowing厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖owingd meani 1.3 Elevation厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖tiond meaning 1.4 Degradation厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖厖adationmeani 1.5 Transfe