“Nothing is perfectly static. Every word, every grammatical element, every locution, every sound and accent is a slowly changing configuration, molded by the invisible and impersonal drift that is the life of language.” (Sapir 1949: 171)
Reading this quote, in which Edward Sapir describes the nature of language, there are two important points, which I would like to use as a starting point for this paper. The first point is that language undergoes a continuous change and is never “perfectly static”. This is especially true for semantics as Ullmann states: “Of all linguistic elements caught up in this drift, meaning is probably the least resistant to change.” (Ullmann 1977: 193) The meaning of words is in a constant process of alteration.
The second point is that the change mentioned above is done by “the invisible and impersonal drift” or to put it in simple words: The change in language in general and in meaning in particular happens unconsciously to the speakers.
This fact poses the following questions: Why do speakers change the meaning of a word if they are not aware of it? What are the forces behind this process, how does this process look like and what are the most relevant types of change? Or in general: What is semantic change?
To give answers to exactly these major questions about semantic change, will be the aim of this paper. The basis for this paper will be the theories of Andreas Blank, who even though being a Romanist, developed a precise, extensive and still very comprehensive theoretical work on semantic change, which is “[...] recommendable for historical semanticists of all languages.” (Grzega 2000: 233)
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The process of semantic change
3. Types of semantic change
3.1 Metaphor
3.1.1 Definition
3.1.2 Process of creation
3.1.3 Conceptual metaphors
3.2 Metonymy
3.3 Ellipsis (lexical absorption)
4. Motivations for semantic change
4.1 New concept (need for an new name)
4.2 Abstract concepts, distant and usually invisible referents
4.3 Sociocultural change
4.4 Close conceptual or factual relation
4.5 Complexity and irregularity in the lexicon
4.6 Emotionally marked concepts
5. Is semantic change predictable?
Objectives & Research Themes
The paper aims to explore the nature of semantic change, investigating why and how word meanings evolve unconsciously within language, based primarily on the theoretical framework of Andreas Blank.
- Mechanisms and types of semantic change (Metaphor, Metonymy, Ellipsis).
- The communicative motivations driving semantic innovation.
- The role of cognitive principles like similarity and contiguity.
- The influence of sociocultural factors and cognitive economy.
- The limitations of predicting future semantic developments.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.2 Process of creation
The basic creation of metaphor can be described as following: A concept is referred to by a name whose concept is normally located in a different area of the innovating speaker’s knowledge. In cognitive linguistics this process of highlighting peripheral, perceptual, functional or only subjective similarity between the two concept areas is referred to as “domain mapping”. (Blank 2001: 75) The described concept is referred to as “target domain” and the concept it is compared to is called “source domain” (cf. Saeed 2009: 359)
To describe the actual process of creation we will take the example mouse. Its change of meaning can be described as following:
(1) mouse ‘small rodent’ > ‘pointing device for computers’
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Discusses the nature of language as a constantly changing system and introduces the paper's aim to explain semantic change through the theories of Andreas Blank.
2. The process of semantic change: Defines semantic change as a slow, gradual process involving innovation and lexicalization, distinguishing between innovative and reductive change.
3. Types of semantic change: Categorizes and analyzes the most frequent types of semantic change, specifically focusing on metaphor, metonymy, and ellipsis.
4. Motivations for semantic change: Explores the reasons behind semantic innovations, emphasizing communicative efficiency, sociocultural shifts, and psychological factors.
5. Is semantic change predictable?: Examines the predictability of meaning development and concludes that semantic change is too unique and contingent on historical factors to be forecasted.
Keywords
Semantic change, Metaphor, Metonymy, Ellipsis, Cognitive linguistics, Lexical innovation, Andreas Blank, Conceptual mapping, Communicative efficiency, Language evolution, Polysemy, Sociocultural change, Euphemism, Lexicalization, Predictability
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the phenomenon of semantic change, explaining how and why the meanings of words evolve over time within a language.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The main themes include the classification of semantic change types, the communicative and cognitive motivations behind these changes, and the inherent difficulty in predicting such linguistic shifts.
What is the main research question or objective?
The objective is to answer fundamental questions about semantic change: Why do speakers unconsciously alter word meanings? What forces drive this process, and how can these changes be categorized?
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The work utilizes a theoretical framework developed by Romanist Andreas Blank, focusing on associative principles like similarity and contiguity as the basis for semantic evolution.
What topics are discussed in the main section?
The main section covers specific types of change (metaphor, metonymy, ellipsis), motivations (new concepts, sociocultural changes, lexical gaps), and the role of emotions in language.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include semantic change, metaphor, metonymy, cognitive linguistics, and lexical innovation.
How does the author explain the creation of a metaphor?
It is explained as a "domain mapping" process, where a concept from a target domain is referred to by a name from a different source domain based on perceived similarity.
Why does the author conclude that semantic change is not predictable?
The author argues that semantic change is highly unique, influenced by contingent historical, cultural, and situational factors that make precise future predictions impossible.
- Quote paper
- Dipl. Germ. Florian Wenz (Author), 2011, An insight on semantic change, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/192733
