英语词汇学6-1课件.pptVIP

6 Word Meaning and Semantic Feature  6.1 Conventionality versus motivation 6.1.1 Conventionality Most English words are conventional, arbitrary symbols; consequently, there is no intrinsic relation between the sound-symbol and its sense. Conventionality: the arbitrariness between a sound and its meaning. Whats in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet. (Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet) Most words in any human language are conventional. e.g. English house French mansion Chinese fang zi Russian dom Spanish casa write, right, rite 6.1.2 Motivation Motivation: the connection between word-symbols and its sense. From the point of view of motivation. The great majority of English words are non-motivated, since they are conventional, arbitrary symbols. However, there is a small group of words that can be described as motivated, that is, a direct connection between the symbol and its sense can be readily observed. 词的理据（motivation）指的是事物和现象获得名称的依据，说明词义与事物或现象的命名之间的关系。 Motivation can arise in three major ways: 1. Phonetic motivation 2. Morphological motivation 3. Semantic motivation 1. Phonetic motivation: Words motivated phonetically are called echoic words or onomatopoeic words, whose pronunciation suggests the meaning. They show a close relation of sound to sense, whereas non-echoic words do not show any such relationship. bow-wow or woof-woof , miaow , baa-baa moo , roar, coo, hiss, hum , quack; boom, crack ,clang , clash, bang, rumble The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled Like noise in a sound!“ Nursery Rhyme: Baa, baa, black sheep Have you any wool Yes, sir, yes sir, Three bags full. Primary onomatopoeia the imitation of sound by s