现代英语词汇学概论最强版复习资料chapter1

现代英语词汇学概论最强版复习资料

现代英语词汇学概论最强版复习资料

Chapter 1 A General Survey Of English Vocabulary ? 1.0 The Definition of the term “word” 词的定义

? 1.1 The Development of English Vocabulary英语词汇的发展史 ? 1.2 Classification of English Words词的分类

1.0 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.

1.1 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

nd

? 2 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.

1.2 Classification of English Words ? Three main criteria:

? By origin: 1. native words 本族词 2. loan words 外来词

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现代英语词汇学概论最强版复习资料

? 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:

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现代英语词汇学概论最强版复习资料

? archaic words (c.f. 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

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