大学英语词汇学Chapter 1 English Lexicology--Introduction1.ppt

English Lexicology 英语词汇学 Textbook A Reader of English Lexicology 汪榕培 王之江 吴晓维 Introduction 0.1 The nature and domain of English Lexicology Lexicology is the branch of linguistics concerned with the study of the vocabulary of a given language. It deals with words, their origins, development, structures, meanings, relations, and usages. English Lexicology investigates and studies the morphological structures of English words and word equivalents, their semantic structures, relations, historical development, formation and usages. Nature: English lexicology is a theoretically-oriented course. However, it is a practical course as well. 0.2 Its relation to other disciplines: Morphology studies the structures or forms of words through the use of morpheme construct Etymology studies the origins and history of the form and meaning of words. Semantics studies the meanings of words and sense relations: polysemy,homonymy,synonymy,antonomy, hyponmy, and semantic field Stylistics is concerned with the user’s choices of linguistic elements in a particular context for special effects. Lexicography shares with lexicology the same problems: the form, meaning, origins and usages of words, but they have a pragmatic difference. . The role of vocabulary in the language system Vocabulary is the building material of the language system. It is one of the there essential elements of language: speech sounds, grammar and vocabulary. “Without grammar very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed.” “…there is a sense in which learning a foreign language is basically a matter of learning the vocabulary of that language. Not being able to find the words to express yourself is the most frustrating experience in speaking another language.” Four levels of word power Speaking vocabulary (active vocabulary) Writing vocabulary(active vocabulary) Reading vocabulary(passive vocabulary) Guess vocabulary(passive vocabulary) 0.4 Methods of Study