现代英语词汇学概论最强版复习资料
Chapter 1 A General Survey Of English Vocabulary
The Definition of the term “word” 词的定义
The Development of English Vocabulary英语词汇的发展史
Classification of English Words词的分类
The Definition of the term “word”
Word: a fundamental unit of speech and a minimum free form; with a unity of sound and meaning (both lexical and grammatical meaning), capable of performing a given syntactic function.
a minimum free form
sound
lexical and grammatical meaning
syntactic function
Bound form粘着形式：Never used as sentences.
Free form 自由形式：Consists entirely of two or more lesser free forms.
It’s not a phrase，is a word.
The Development of English Vocabulary
Native: Celtic
1st period(449-1100): Old English or Anglo-Saxon Period (OE or AS)
Celtic →
Anglo-Saxon (the settlement from 450 AD.) / Old Norse / Latin
2nd period (1100-1500): Middle English Period (ME)
French (the Norman Conquest in 1066)
Latin
3rd period (1500-present): Modern English Period
Early stages of Modern English (1500-1700)
Latin (Renaissance)
Greek (Renaissance)
Contemporary English (1700-present):
Three Romance Languages : French, Spanish, Italian
Other European languages: Portuguese, German, Dutch …
Non-European languages (exploration, colonization, trade)
The rapid growth of present-day English vocabulary and its causes.
Marked progress of science and technology.
Socio-economic，political and cultural changes.
The influence of other cultures and languages.
Classification of English Words
Three main criteria:
By origin: 1. native words 本族词
2. loan words 外来词
By level of usage: 1. common words 普通词
2. literary words 书面词
3. colloquial words 口头词
4. slang words 俚语
5. technical words 术语
By notion: 1. function words 功能词
2. content words 实义词
By origin:
1. native words 本族词
2. loan words 外来词
Native words: words of Anglo-Saxon origin or of old English
Features of native words:
Most are monosyllabic
forming the great majority of the basic word stock
Loan / borrowed words: those borrowed from other languages
Basic word stock:
auxiliary, modal verbs, numerals, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, the most frequently used words (essential to life)
National character
Stability
Word-forming ability
Ability to form collocations
By level of usage:
1. Common words 普通词
2. Literary words 书面词
3. Colloquial words 口头词
4. Slang words 俚语
5. Technical words 术语
*There are no clear-cut boundaries between the various classes of words.
Common words普通词:
connected with the ordinary things or activities necessary to everyday life
The core of the common words is the basic word stock.
Stylistically neutral
Literary words书面词:
chiefly used in writing, especially in books written in a more elevated style, in official documents, or in formal speeches.
Most are of French, Latin or Greek origin.
Among the literary word, two categories are noteworthy:
archaic words . obsolete words)
poetical words
Slang俚语:
Language, words or phrases of a vigorous, colorful, facetious, or taboo nature, invented for specific occasions, or uses or derived from the unconventional use of the standard vocabulary
Not generally used in informal conversation unless the speakers are on intimate terms
Embracing those daring and new expression that have not been accepted as standard English
The chief reason for use of slang: secure freshness and novelty
Technical words术语:
used in various fields: science, profession or trade, art, sport
increasing precision in nomenclature
one specific meaning
Latin or Greek in origin
By notion:
1. function words 功能词
2. content words 实义词
Function words:
determiners, conjunctions, prepositions, auxiliaries
not having much lexical meaning
serving grammatically:
Behaving like grammatical signals or functional markers,
Expressing the kinds of connection between content words
Constructing acceptable English sentences
small in number and stable:
In relatively closed lists
Belonging to a relatively small and permanent set of words)
high frequency。