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1、Week-9-Polysemy-and-Week-9-Polysemy-and-HomomemyHomomemyWeek 9 Polysemy and HomonymyContents1.Polysemy一词多义一词多义2.Homonymy同音同音-同形异义同形异义3.StylisticvaluesofPandH4.ConclusionPolysemy1. Definition: thecharacteristic of a word having a range of closely related meanings Note: A word that has that characteri
2、stic is called a polysemousword.2. Why polysemous 1) Necessity：an essential feature of a languages economy and efficiency 2) Possibility: arbitrary assignment of form and meaning 3) Result: Most words are polysemous. “Polysemy is a rule and monosemy is the exception”.The commoner a word, the more me
3、anings it has.Two mutually supplementary approaches to polysemynDiachronic: concerned with the development of a word from its originalmonosemicstate to its present polysemicstate over time (primary or original meaningderived meanings)nSynchronic: concerned with the comparative value of individual me
4、anings and the interrelation between the central meaning and secondarymeaningslOne criterion of the comparative value: the frequency of the meaning in speechlCentral meaning: the most frequently occurring meaningRelationship between the primary and the central meaningqThe two may coincide, e.g. hand
5、: terminal part of the human arm beyond the wrist - both primary and central qA new meaning may become the center, e.g. prevent: to anticipate (primary or original meaning, obsolete now) to keep from happening (new meaning, central in ME)Two processes leading to polysemy: radiation and concatenation
6、 1. Radiation: with the primary or central meaning standing at the center while secondary meanings radiating from it in every direction like rays. Analysis:n(1) Each secondary meaning has directly developed from “ability to do or act” that stands at the center.n(2) No relation between the secondary
7、meaningsThe radiation of the meaning of the word POWER (in 13 senses)1.ability to do or act, particular faculty of body or mind;2.vigour, energy;3.active property,4.government, influence, authority; personal ascendance; political or social ascendancy;5.authorization, delegated authority;6.influentia
8、l person, body, or thing7.deity;8.(colloq) large number or amount;9.(Math.) third, tenth, etc. power of a number; product obtained from three, ten, etc, factors equal to the number;10.instrument for applying energy to mechanical purposes;11.mechanical or electrical energy as opp. to hand-labour;12.c
9、apacity for exerting mechanical force, esp. horse power;13.magnifying capacity of lensTwo processes leading to polysemy: radiation and concatenation2. Concatenation连锁: with the meaning moving gradually away from its first sense by successive shifts, like the links of a chain, until there is no conne
10、ction between the sense that is finally developed and primary meaning. Theconcatenation of the meaning of the word candidate (L, meaning “white robed”)A: pertaining to a person dressed in whiteA + B: A white-robed applicant for office, because the Romans wore white robes when standing for officeB: A
11、n applicant for officeAnalysis: is far removed from , whose original meaning has become obsolete.Homonymy 同音同音-同形异义同形异义1. Definition: the relationship between words same in pronunciation (homophone) and/or spelling (homograph), but different in meaning Note: words that have this relationship between
12、 them are called homynyms2. Why homonymous1) Reason: Monosyllabic words stand a far better chance of being homynyms than others.2) Abundant in monosyllabic languages like:Chinese, primarily monosyllabicEnglish, with common words primarily monosyllabicTypes of homonyms 1.Perfecthomonym: identical in
13、both sound and spelling, e.g.nlie vi make a statement that one knows to be to be untruevi be, put oneself flat on a horizontal surface or in a resting positionnpagen. one side of a leaf of paper in a book, periodical, etcn. boy servant, usu. in uniform, in a hotel, club, etc.2.Homophone, identical o
14、nly in sound, such asnair, heir; bear, bare; dear, deer; pair, pear; son, sun; nprincipal, principle ensure, insure stationary, stationery; ncompliment, complement3.Homograph: identical only in spelling lead /li:d/ lead /led/ sow /su/ sow /sau/Processes to homonymy (1)1.Phoneticconvergence: the most
15、 common cause, examplenOld Norse rs race running reisnFrench race race nation, breed2.Semanticdivergence: “When two or more meanings of the same word drift apart to such an extent that there will be no obvious connection between them, polysemy will give place to homonymy” An example of semantic dive
16、rgenceflourME(thefinestpartofflourbestofanything精华精华)flour:thereproductivewheatmealstructureofsomeseed-bearingplants花花flower:anewspellingtodistinguishfrom“flour”thatindicates“wheatmeal” Processes to homonymy (2)3. Conversion in homographs: by change of stress and pronunciation, e.g. conduct (n. ) co
17、nduct (v.) ; perfect (adj.) perfect (v.) compound (adj. or n.) compound (v.) 4. Shortening cab cabriolet; cab esp. Am E taxi pop popular; pop to thrust, to push up 5. Borrowing fair - attractive, beautiful, lovely OE, fger fair - a gathering of people held at regular intervals for barter and sale of
18、 goods L feria, holiday host - one who entertains guests L hospitis host - a large number, an army L hostis, army, hostile force There are more homophones than homographs in English, mostly because the 16th and 17th century printers did much to reduce the number of the latter.Stylistic value of poly
19、semy and homonymyTo achieve humor by punning or to heighten dramatic effect playing on words (intentional ambiguity), e.g. Example 1n“How is bread made?”n“I know that!” Alice cried eagerly. “You take some flour-“n“Where do you pick the follower?” the White Queen asked. “In a garden, or in the hedges
20、?”n“Well, it isnt picked at all,” Alice explained, “its ground - ”n“How many acres of ground?” said the White Queen.n(From Alices Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll)Stylistic value of polysemy and homonymy (1)To achieve humor or irony, or to heighten dramatic effectExample 1l“How is bread mad
21、e?” “I know that!” Alice cried eagerly. “You take some flour-“ “Where do you pick the follower?” the White Queen asked. “In a garden, or in the hedges?” “Well, it isnt picked at all,” Alice explained, “its ground - ” “How many acres of ground?” said the White Queen. (From Alices Adventures in Wonder
22、land by Lewis Carroll)Example 2l“Let us imagine a woman goes to the chemists for a developed film. She says smugly to the chemist.” I do look nice in the picture, dont I?” handing Her the film the chemist replies: “Well, mam, the answer lies in the negative.”Stylistic value of polysemy and homonymy(
23、2)To achieve humor or irony, or to heighten dramatic effectExample 3l“Not on the y sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew, thou makest thy knife keen.” (From The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene 1, by Shakespeare)Example 4 l“On Sunday they pray for you and on Monday they prey on you.”(王佐良：英语文体学论文集王佐良：英语文
24、体学论文集1980，p.115)Conclusion (see p 193)1. Polysemy Definition: a single word having several or many meaningsMain processes leading to polysemy: radiation and concatenationSignificance: signs of an advanced culture and an essential feature of a languages economy and deficiency2. HomonymsDefinition: wo
25、rds different in meaning but identical both in sound and spelling or identical only in spelling or soundMain processes: phonetic convergence, semantic divergence, conversion, shortening and foreign influenceStylistically useful to achieve humor or irony, or to heighten dramatic effectHomework assignmentnExs nMake sure you understand and remember these terms: primary meaning, central meaning, polysemy, radiation, concatenation, homonym, homonymous, perfect homonym, homophone, homograph, phonetic convergence, semantic divergence, monosyllabic结束结束
