Chapter 4   Aspects of Word Meaning

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Contents: mechanism of change; causes of changes in word meaning. 

Objectives: 

1.Explain the mechanism that facilitates the change in word meaning. 

2.Focus on the causes of change including linguistic factors and extra-linguistic factors.

Difficult points: four types of associations; linguistic factors, extra-linguistic factors: historical reason, class reason and psychological reason. 

Procedures: 

Step I  Brief review of the last lecture 

Step II  Presentation

1. Explain the four types of associations that facilitate the change in word meaning: a similarity between associated sign-shapes; a similarity between the sign-contents, or concepts; a contact between associated sign-shapes; a contact between the sign-contents.

2. Read with students passages and word examples in the textbook in order to understand the causes of changes in word meaning, including linguistic factors and extra-linguistic factors.

3. Do exercise on page 166. 

Step III Answer students’ questions 

Step IV Homework 

　Exercises

2. Tell the type of meaning of each word in italic in terms of subjective meaning or objective meaning according to the definition. 

Word                                 Meaning 

1) pitiful                            deserving pity 

(                ) 

2) fearful                           scaring; afraid 

(                ) 

3) knowledgeable              showing knowledge of sth. 

(                ) 

4) careful                          showing care 

(                ) 

5) anxious                         feeling anxiety about sth. 

(                ) 

6) likeable                         pleasant, deserving affection 

(                ) 

7) dangerous                    causing danger 

(                ) 

8) joyous                           experiencing joy; causing joy 

(                ) 

9) hateful                           deserving hate 

(                ) 

10) suspicious                    having suspicion; causing suspicion 

(                )   

　Key:

2. 1)pitiful                  (objective) 

2)fearful                            (objective, subjective) 

3) knowledgeable       (subjective) 

4)careful                     (subjective) 

5)anxious                   (subjective) 

6)likeable                   (objective) 

7)dangerous               (objective) 

8) joyous                    (subjective, objective) 

9) hateful                    (objective) 

10) suspicious             (subjective, objective)