3
Contents
Preface....................................................................................................................................... 4
1. Lexicon and lexicology........................................................................................................ 5
2. Linguistic sign...................................................................................................................... 6
3. Meaning................................................................................................................................ 9
3.1. Types of meaning............................................................................................................... 9
3.2. Change of meaning........................................................................................................... 10
3.3. Morphemes....................................................................................................................... 11
4. Naming units...................................................................................................................... 15
4.1. Lexeme............................................................................................................................. 15
4.2. Types of naming units...................................................................................................... 15
5. Word-formation ................................................................................................................ 17
5.1. Derivation......................................................................................................................... 17
5.2. Compounding................................................................................................................... 17
5.3. Conversion ....................................................................................................................... 19
5.4. Abbreviation..................................................................................................................... 19
5.5. Minor word-formation processes ..................................................................................... 20
6. Relations between naming units (sense relations).......................................................... 22
6.1. Polysemy.......................................................................................................................... 22
6.2. Homonymy....................................................................................................................... 23
6.3. Hyponymy........................................................................................................................ 23
6.4. Synonymy......................................................................................................................... 25
6.5. Antonymy......................................................................................................................... 26
7. Figures of speech ............................................................................................................... 27
8. Word classes (Parts of speech)......................................................................................... 28
8.1. Nouns ............................................................................................................................... 28
8.2. Adjectives......................................................................................................................... 34
8.3. Pronouns........................................................................................................................... 35
8.4. Verbs ................................................................................................................................ 36
8.5. Adverbs ............................................................................................................................ 39
8.6. Prepositions...................................................................................................................... 40
8.7. Conjunctions..................................................................................................................... 40
8.8. Other word classes ........................................................................................................... 41
9. The origins and development of English vocabulary..................................................... 43
9.1. Latin influence.................................................................................................................. 43
9.2. Scandinavian influence .................................................................................................... 44
9.3. French (Norman) influence.............................................................................................. 45
9.4. Greek borrowings............................................................................................................. 48
9.5. Lexical borrowings from other languages........................................................................ 49
9.6. National varieties of English............................................................................................ 50
10. Practice exercises (with key) .......................................................................................... 57
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................... 97