Change and variation of English lexis
Change and variation of English lexis
1. Introduction
The topic under discussion in this paper is about the lexical change and lexical variation. The change and vary of language never stops and it develops with the move of time and space (Zhichang, 2010, p.19 ). I will talk about the lexical change and variation in English lexis from three respects and I will discuss how the knowledge of lexical change and variation facilitates can be related to the learning and/or teaching of vocabulary.
2. Distinction between lexical change and variation
As explained by Zhichang (2010), lexical change is the process during which the vocabulary of a certain language changes over time and it is one type of language changes (p. 19). New words are always being created, while some words disappeared in the change of lexical. Many archaisms such as “trow”, “thou” and “hast” have become obsolete and they are replaced by new words. “Language variation refers to any distinguishable form of speech used by a speaker or group of speakers. (Wen-hua, 2008, p.49)” Lexical change is a diachronic change and lexical variation is more of a synchronic variation since it can be observed at any given time point. As Holmes(2001) said, language varies in three major ways which are interestingly interrelated—over time, in physical, and socially. Language change—variation over time—has its origins in spatial and social variation. (p. 205) Walt (n.d) claims that “One of the most fruitful areas for the application of language variation analysis is language change, given the fact that change necessarily involves variation.” Although all of the changes seem to contain variation, this doesn 't mean that all variations refer to the changes. This is also agreed by Johnson (1993), he points out that “Many terms that had undergone language change did not reveal patterned variation” (p. 256) Language change inevitably leads to variation, and variation within a speech community often leads to social
1. Introduction
The topic under discussion in this paper is about the lexical change and lexical variation. The change and vary of language never stops and it develops with the move of time and space (Zhichang, 2010, p.19 ). I will talk about the lexical change and variation in English lexis from three respects and I will discuss how the knowledge of lexical change and variation facilitates can be related to the learning and/or teaching of vocabulary.
2. Distinction between lexical change and variation
As explained by Zhichang (2010), lexical change is the process during which the vocabulary of a certain language changes over time and it is one type of language changes (p. 19). New words are always being created, while some words disappeared in the change of lexical. Many archaisms such as “trow”, “thou” and “hast” have become obsolete and they are replaced by new words. “Language variation refers to any distinguishable form of speech used by a speaker or group of speakers. (Wen-hua, 2008, p.49)” Lexical change is a diachronic change and lexical variation is more of a synchronic variation since it can be observed at any given time point. As Holmes(2001) said, language varies in three major ways which are interestingly interrelated—over time, in physical, and socially. Language change—variation over time—has its origins in spatial and social variation. (p. 205) Walt (n.d) claims that “One of the most fruitful areas for the application of language variation analysis is language change, given the fact that change necessarily involves variation.” Although all of the changes seem to contain variation, this doesn 't mean that all variations refer to the changes. This is also agreed by Johnson (1993), he points out that “Many terms that had undergone language change did not reveal patterned variation” (p. 256) Language change inevitably leads to variation, and variation within a speech community often leads to social
References: Dirk Geeraerts (n.d). Varieties of lexical variation. Retrieved April 25, 2012, fromhttp://www.euralex.org/elx_proceedings/Euralex1994/11_Euralex_Dirk%20Geeraerts%20-%20Varieties%20of%20lexical%20variation.pdf Ellen Johnson. (1993). Language Variation and Change: The relationship between lexical variation and lexical change. Janet Holmes. (2001). An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Harlow, England; Hong Kong: Longman. Marc Xu Zhichang. (2010). Vocabulary Studies Lexis, Morphology and Semantics: Historical Review of English Vocabulary; Lexical Change and Variation. Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia Raymond Hickey. (2010). The handbook of language Sarah G. Thomason (n.d). Language Variation and Change. Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://lsadc.org/info/ling-fields-change.cfm Walt Wolfram (n.d). Variation and Change, an Overview in Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics 2nd Edition. Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://www.ncsu.edu/linguistics/docs/pdfs/walt/Language_variation-sgl.pdf Wen-hua Du. (2008). Language variation refers to any distinguishable form of speech used by a speaker or group of speakers. The University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee Wikipage. (n.d.) In Language contact. Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_contact Ronald Alan Perry.(n.d). Africa-America English. Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://www.utp.edu.co/~chumanas/revistas/revistas/rev31/african.htm