Understanding Semantic Change in Linguistics

Semantic Change: Evolution of Lexical Meaning

Semantic change refers to the alteration in the lexical meaning of words and morphemes. Lexical meaning is highly susceptible to change because the connection between a word and its meaning is arbitrary and conventional, making meaning inherently flexible and subjective.

Primary Types of Semantic Change

• Generalization (Widening/Broadening): An increase in the scope of a word's meaning to denote a greater variety of referents.
• Specialization (Narrowing/Restriction): A decrease in the scope of meaning where semantic features increase while the number of referents decreases. Example: OE 'deer' > Mod.E 'deer'.
• Amelioration: The acquisition of a more favorable meaning. Example: OE 'cniht' (boy) > Mod.E 'knight'.
• Pejoration: The acquisition of a less favorable meaning. Example: OE 'sely' (blessed) > Mod.E 'silly'.
• Weakening: The use of words that are stronger than required, leading to a reduction in intensity. Example: 'awfully' has been reduced to mean 'very'.
• Strengthening: The inverse of weakening, often involving euphemisms to avoid taboos.

Euphemism Strategies

• Generalization: Using general terms (e.g., 'voiding' for 'urinate').
• Borrowing: Using foreign terms (e.g., 'respire' for 'sweat').
• Semantic Shift: Using a part of a process to denote the whole (e.g., 'sleep with someone').
• Phonetic Distortion: Altering the phonetic form (e.g., 'darn' for 'damn').
• Diminutives: Using affectionate or small forms (e.g., 'poh-poh').
• Acronyms: Shortening phrases (e.g., 'SOB' for 'son of a bitch').
• Humble Occupations: Using modest titles for roles.

Figurative and Relational Shifts

Metaphoric Transfer

Metaphor allows us to understand abstract notions through concrete concepts. Example: 'The dollar has gone down.'

Metonymic Transfer

An object or idea is described through the name of a closely related entity, often occurring when two entities are near each other in space or time. Example: OE 'cease' (jaw) > Mod.E 'cheek'.

Synecdoche

A specific type of metonymic transfer where meanings are related as a whole and a part. Example: OE 'stobe' (heated room) > 'stove'.

False Friends

False friends are words with similar forms but different meanings in two different languages. They are created due to the polysemy of a word in a mother language, where 'daughter' language A retains one meaning while language B retains another. Example: Spanish 'actual' (current) vs. English 'actual' (real/specific).