Term
| define lexeme and discuss it's significance |
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Definition
| "THE SMALLEST CONTRASTIVE UNIT IN A SEMANTIC SYSTEM"-the smallest unit that is fundamentally different from the other pieces of meaning or in this case the language-or easier def. think of it as a headword in a dictionary, the front word, or bold faced word in dictionary. A lexeme can be may be more than 1 word. Inflectional endings can be added such as -s (plural) but the inflection is not part of the lexeme. Suffix's and Prefix's can be lexemes. |
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Term
| define lexicon and discuss it's significance. |
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Definition
| "the vocabulary of a language" (pg2) comes from Greek work Lexis means word. Includes not just whole words but also parts (prefixes suffixes.English lexicon is probably at least a million lexemes but all sort of other meanings that wouldn't necessarily be included-slang, professional, not used in US or England. Individual lexicons consist of: active and passive vocabulary. 50,000 average- for active and passive vocab of well educated person? 20,000 - Shakespeare. |
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Term
| describe the 4 general different types of semantic change |
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Definition
| semantic change (having to do w/ meaning). 1)extension/generalization-becoming broader in meaning. 2) narrowing/specialization-becoming narrower in meaning 3)amelioration-getting positive associations 4) pejoration/deteroration- getting negative associations ex. elite |
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Term
| describe the different types of semantic change that occur over time |
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Definition
| denotations can change when old words are used in new ways such as with slang "that was wicked"; or they can change over time if there is consistent misuse of the word ex. disinterested means objective, not involved real meaning, hold self apart from it, but people believe it means not interested. Semantic change occurs when new connotations arise- ex. elite. Word meaning also changes over time when new combinations or compounds are invented- ex. shovel-ready (Obama buzzword). Additionally semantic change can be seen when changes in usage are performed to words- impact is only a noun not a verb but it is starting to be used as a verb. Other examples: catch phrases (smile w/ your eyes; vogue words (seriously -w/ inflection); slogans (maybe shes born w/ it maybe..); slang (Benjemens); different part of speech-conversion (fax, copy); dangle participles, end w/ preposition, serial comma. |
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Term
| explain what makes the OED different than earlier dictionaries |
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Definition
| Murry's idea was to include all words to have a descriptive approach rather than a prescriptive approach (see what's out there and describe how its used as opposed to this is what's out there but it is wrong-tries to be impartial to words) Murry also wanted to show the historical development/etymology/life history of words. Despite all this the OED did make use of earlier dictionaries definitions, quotes, etc. (Johnson direct source almost 3000 quotes, 720 definitions from Johnson, and Webster's was measurement standard of the OED). |
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Term
| When and under what circumstances did the Anglo Saxons come to Brittan? |
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Definition
| After the Roman's left the Celts were being harassed by invaders from the north (Scots and Picts) so in the 5th cent, Vortigern asked for help from the Germanic tribes (including the Anglo's and the Saxons and Jutes). They came in 449 and then decided to stay, becoming a bigger problem almost than the invaders. The Anglo's mostly settled along the eastern coast (now called East Anglia). The Saxons settled in south, and southeast (wesix, suffix). |
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Term
| 4-5 letters used in OE alphabet that we don't have anymore in Modern English. List them, sounds, meanings etc. |
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Definition
| þ (thorn)as in thin (th-)means thorn ; ȝ (yew)as in pleasure means yew ; æ (æsch)as in cat (a) means ash ; ð (edth) makes th sound means ?; ƿ (wynn) makes w sound means joy; |
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Term
| define kenning and give ex |
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Definition
| "In the study of OE vocabulary, a vivid figurative description of an aspect of experience, often expressed as a compound word." A compound word ex. whale-road, bone-house, gas-guzzler. |
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Term
| describe 4 primary dialects in OE |
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Definition
| (dialect=a regionally distinctive variety of language) although we don't have a lot of evidence on dialects (only about 3 million words) we can say that dialect differences are signaled by different spellings, and different word formations.The 4 primary dialects in OE - Northumbrian (Northern part of country; powerful in the 7th cent; Caedmon's Hymn is in this dialect); Mercian (most related to Modern English; midlands area; peak of power was in the 8th and 9th cent; dialect of London; sometimes classified w/ Northumbiran as Anglian); Kentish (small area in South East; very few text mostly of the 8th and 9th cent); West Saxon (SW area; most powerful near the end of the 9th cent under King Alfred; by far more documented dialect; but over long hall Mercian wins out). Beowulf has elements of all 4 dialects in it. |
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Term
| What is the event that divides OE from ME and why is it important. |
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Definition
| Norman Conquest 1066 - After King Alfred the Great dies (mobilized resistance against Vikings, created sense of national identity, promoted ed and learning, organized trans. of Latin text into English) his son and daughter rule then a Danish King rules then King Edward the Confessor (Alfred's line) rules then when he dies there is a conflict over claimants for the thrown. Edward's BIL Harold Godwineson is elected by the lords. Harold Haardaade King of Norway claims it is his by right. William Duke of Normandy says Edward told him he could have the thrown. Harold Haardaade King of Norway lands in England and is defeated by Harold Godwineson (BIL); then William Duke of Normandy comes w/ a larger army and defeats Harold Godwineson (BIL)'s army and kills Harold G by shooting him in the eye w/ and arrow. This is called the Norman Conquest because William Duke of Normandy wins. However he doesn't take over the whole country. Only 10,000 Normans (french) come over to the country of 1-2 million Englanders. OE was still spoke in England as late as 13th cent but inflections are lost, as well as literary forms and more rhyme is infused. Norman French was spoken by the kings, nobles, religious officials and these people became the most influential group in England. Also merchants and craftsmen from France Normandy came over because of financial opportunity. |
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Term
| list events that added to the resurgence of the English lang after 1100. |
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Definition
| 1st 150yrs after conquest there are very few ex of written English it seems lang disappears from written form but when it comes back there are many changes to it. by the 12th cent there are a lot more intermarriage between English and French, and there is more English being spoken by upper class (Mono lingo attitude starting to fall apart a little). 1204 English lost control of Normandy when the French king took away King John's holdings-made people have to decide between holdings/alliances in England or in France. 1258 King Henry III issues proclamation in Latin, French, and English. 1337-1453 Hundred Years War between England and France (started thinking about making English national lang). 1348 1st outbreak of Plague in England (wiped out 1/3 pop and lower class started having more power). 1399 Henry IV gives coronation speech in English. |
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Term
| describe 5 primary dialects in mid-English |
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Definition
| still have Kentish (from OE); where had West Saxon get Southern dialect; where had Northumbrian get Northern dialect; where had Mercian get both East and West Midland dialects. East Midland dialect is the precursor of Modern English (because of London). The biggest differences between dialects are between the North and South. They, their, and them Northern and West Midlands vs. his, here, and hem in south. The -ing verb ending appears as -and in Northern; -end in East Midlands, -ind West Midlands and -ing elsewhere. The -th ending (goeth) appears as -s in Northern and throughout most of the north Midland area. Also distinctive use of certain vowels/consonants such as kurk in the North and church in the South. |
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Term
| describe 2 major influences on standardization of spelling |
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Definition
| Chancery Standard and the Printing Press- London emerges a the political and commercial center of England and it is the home of "London Chancery" (offices) where lots of manuscripts were copied in what was called Chancery Standard. The Masters of Chancery controlled the official documents from the 1380s-1450. They they were more influential than the famous poets of the time such as Chaucer. They preferred word order that went subject object verb, tended to use adverbs ending in -ly (Northern); tended to use 3rd person singular verbs w/ endings -s rather than -th, and tended to use them instead of hem. Also in 1476 William Caxton comes out w/ the 1st printing press of England and he adopts the Chancery Standard. |
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Term
| what happened in the great vowel shift |
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Definition
| took place mostly across the 15th cent but wasn't fully done until the 17th cent and one aspect not until 18th and 19th cent. it was a systematic change throughout England but it may have been a a kind of selection of one variant among several dialectical options that eventually everyone came on board to. It was the systematic raising and fronting of the 7 long, stressed vowels. There were no losses of vowels rather they just shifted through a domino effect. We are not sure which vowel changed 1st but there are 2 theories. Pull Theory (more widely excepted) says one vowel (ee) changes leaving an empty space into which the next vowel gets pulled. Push theory says that one vowel (ah) changes and pushes other vowels out of its way. i (ee) changes to ai (i) ex. meece to mice; e changes to ee ex. sake to seek; ae cahnges to i ex fla to flee; a changes to e ex. maut - mate; u changes to au ex. huwse to house; o changes to u ex boot to boat; and au changes to o. |
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