Lexicology: А Current Guide. Лексикология английского языка

Г.Н. Бабич 

LEXICOLOGY: A CURRENT GUIDE 

ЛЕКСИКОЛОГИЯ АНГЛИЙСКОГО ЯЗЫКА 

Учебное пособие 

10-е издание, стереотипное

Допущено Министерством образования и науки
Российской Федерации в качестве учебного пособия
для студентов высших учебных заведений, 
обучающихся по специальности «Иностранный язык» 

Москва
Издательство «ФЛИНТА» 
2019

УДК 811.111’373(075.8) 
ББК  81.432.1-3я73

   Б12 

Р е ц е н з е н т ы :

д-р филол. наук, проф. О.М. Карпова 

(Ивановский государственный университет); 
д-р филол. наук, проф. О.А. Леонтович 

(Волгоградский государственный педагогический университет) 

Б12         

Бабич Г.Н. 
     Lexicology : A Current Guide.  Лексикология английского языка 
[Электронный ресурс] : учеб. пособие / Г.Н. Бабич.  —  10-е изд., 
стер. — М. : ФЛИНТА,  2019. — 200 с.

ISBN 978-5-9765-0249-9 

В пособии освещены основные проблемы лексикологии в соответствии с действующими государственными стандартами и программой по 
данному курсу для студентов гуманитарных вузов. Теоретический материал тесно связан с упражнениями и заданиями, цель которых помочь 
студентам в практическом овладении основами лексикологии. В каждой 
главе даны ключевые вопросы для контроля знаний. Заключительная 
часть пособия содержит вопросы для самоконтроля, аутентичные отрывки для комплексного лексикологического анализа, которые могут быть 
использованы на учебных занятиях и для самостоятельной работы при 
совершенствовании навыков владения современным английским языком, 
определении основных понятий и терминов курса. 
Для студентов факультетов иностранных языков, филологических 
факультетов, отделений лингвистики университетов, аспирантов и интересующихся проблемами слова. 

УДК 811.111’373(075.8) 
ББК  81.432.1-3я73

ISBN 978-5-9765-0249-9 
  © Издательство «ФЛИНТА», 2008 

СONTENTS

Preface ..................................................................................................... 7
Introduction ............................................................................................. 8

Chapter 1

Language and Lexicology .......................................................................... 9
1.1. The Object of Lexicology ............................................................. 9
1.2. Branches of Lexicology .............................................................. 10
1.3. Lexicology and Sociolinguistics ................................................. 13
1.4. The Definition of the Word ........................................................ 16
Key Terms ............................................................................................... 18
Topics for Discussion and Exercises .......................................................... 18

Chapter 2

The Origins of English Words .................................................................. 20
2.1. Native Words ............................................................................. 22
2.2. Borrowings................................................................................. 24
2.3. Etymological Doublets .............................................................. 30
2.4. International Words ................................................................... 31
Key Terms ............................................................................................... 32
Topics for Discussion and Exercises .......................................................... 32

Chapter 3

Word Structure and Word Formation ....................................................... 36
3.1. Morpheme. Allomorph .............................................................. 37
3.2. Word Structure........................................................................... 39
3.3. Immediate Constituents Analysis............................................... 41
3.4. Affixation ................................................................................... 42
3.5. Conversion................................................................................. 46
3.6. WordComposition .................................................................... 48
3.7. Other Types of Word Formation................................................. 51
Key Terms ............................................................................................... 53
Topics for Discussion and Exercises .......................................................... 54

Chapter 4

Semantics ............................................................................................... 57
4.1. Semasiology or Semantics? ........................................................ 57
4.2. Denotation and Connotation..................................................... 59
4.3. Polysemy.................................................................................... 61
4.4. Componential Analysis .............................................................. 62
4.5. Semantic Change ....................................................................... 65
4.6. Secondary Ways of Semantic Change ........................................ 69
Key Terms ............................................................................................... 70
Topics for Discussion and Exercises .......................................................... 70

Chapter 5

The Vocabulary of a Language as a System .............................................. 74
5.1. Homonyms ................................................................................ 74
5.2. Synonyms .................................................................................. 77
5.2.1. The Nature of Synonymy ................................................ 77
5.2.2. The Definition of Synonyms ........................................... 79
5.2.3. Classification of Synonyms ............................................. 81
5.2.4. Euphemism ..................................................................... 82
5.3. Antonyms .................................................................................. 82
5.4. Hyponymy and Paronymy ......................................................... 84
Key Terms ............................................................................................... 85
Topics for Discussion and Exercises .......................................................... 86

Chapter 6

Combinability. Word Groups.................................................................... 90
Key Terms ............................................................................................... 95
Topics for Discussion and Exercises .......................................................... 95

Chapter 7

Phraseology ............................................................................................ 98
7.1. Semantic Classification of Phraseological Units .......................100
7.2. Structural Classification of Phraseological Units ......................101

7.3. Functional Classification of Phraseological Units ....................102
7.4. Contextual Classification of Phraseological Units ....................103
7.5. Prof. Kunin’s Classification of Phraseological Units ................103
7.6. Proverbs, Sayings, Quotations ...................................................105
Key Terms ..............................................................................................107
Topics for Discussion and Exercises .........................................................107

Chapter 8

Levels of Usage ......................................................................................111
8.1. Stylistic Differentiation of the English Vocabulary ....................112
8.2. The Varieties of English ............................................................117
8.3. Levels of Language....................................................................121
8.4. Registers ...................................................................................125
Key Terms ..............................................................................................128
Topics for Discussion and Exercises .........................................................128

Chapter 9

Lexicography .........................................................................................133

9.1. The History of Dictionary Making .............................................133

9.2. Classification of Dictionaries ....................................................136
Key Terms ..............................................................................................140
Topics for Discussion and Exercises .........................................................140

Chapter 10

American English ...................................................................................145
10.1. Spelling .....................................................................................146
10.2. Pronunciation ...........................................................................148
10.3. Punctuation ..............................................................................148
10.4. Numbers ...................................................................................149
10.5. Grammar ..................................................................................150
10.5.1. Use of the Present Perfect ............................................150
10.5.2. Possession ....................................................................150
10.5.3. The Verb Get .................................................................151

10.5.4. Past Simple/Past Participles .........................................151
10.5.5. Other Differences .........................................................152
10.5.6. Prepositions .................................................................153
10.6. Vocabulary ................................................................................153
10.7. African American Vernacular English (AAVE) ..........................158
Key Terms ..............................................................................................160
Topics for Discussion and Exercises .........................................................160

Chapter 11

A World English .....................................................................................163
11.1. Canadian English......................................................................163
11.2. Australian English .....................................................................164
11.3. New Zealand English ................................................................166
11.4. Indian English ..........................................................................167
11.4.1. Pronunciation ..............................................................168
11.4.2. Grammar .....................................................................168
11.4.3. Vocabulary: loans .........................................................169
11.4.4. Usage ...........................................................................171
Key Terms ..............................................................................................172
Topics for Discussion and Exercises .........................................................173

Review ..................................................................................................174
References .............................................................................................185
Dictionaries ...........................................................................................187
Glossary ................................................................................................188

Preface

This book is based upon a series of lectures on English Lexicology
delivered at the Ural State Pedagogical University of Yekaterinburg,
Russia.
The theoretical Course in Modern English Lexicology forms a part
of the curriculum for the English Departments in Foreign Languages
and Linguistic Institutes.
In accordance with the basic aim the Guide incorporates lectures,
topics for discussion and exercises that cover the main areas of
lexicology. The Course highlights the recent tendencies in the linguistic
science; it combines theoretical study and practice.
Each chapter provides a variety of instructional activities that help
students evaluate the information they have learned, express their
thoughts and analyse the most pressing issues of current lexicology.
The book includes a list of terms and concepts.
All these materials are aimed at expanding students’ language
knowledge. They enhance theoretical competence, students’ reflective
thinking whenever they have a problem to solve, and challenge students
to make individual judgements.
It is hoped that this approach will be conducive to a better
understanding of the fundamental principles of lexicology, and students
will find much of value in this book. We’d appreciate any comments or
suggestions you may have for improving this text.

Galina N. Babich

Introduction

It is both a pleasure and a privilege to write the introduction for
this exceptional guide. As an American who formerly taught English, I
only wish I had access to the wealth of information provided herein.
Indeed, students of any age, teachers of English throughout the world,
or any person with an interest in language will find this contribution
both engaging and informative. This wellwritten book has a global
appeal.
The author has been my friend and professional colleague for over
a decade. In this guide she displays an amazing grasp of this branch of
linguistics. The accomplishment does not surprise me, however, as
Dr. Babich has long been a “citizen of the world”, studying, observing,
and writing about her experiences. Readers of many nations will enjoy
this book and I recommend it highly.

Jeanne C. Baxter, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus
Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Partner, Quality Education Associates

C h a p t e r  1

LANGUAGE AND LEXICOLOGY

Po l o n i u s: What do you read, my lord?
H a m l e t: Words, words, words.
Po l o n i u s: What is the matter, my lord?
H a m l e t: Between who?
Po l o n i u s: I mean the matter that you
read, my lord.
William Shakespeare, Hamlet

1.1. The Object of Lexicology

Lexicology (of Greek origin: lexis “word” + logos “learning”)
(ca.1828) is a branch of linguistics concerned with words. It is a study
of words. All the words of a language make up its vocabulary or lexicon
(1603). To study the lexicon of English is to study all aspects of the
vocabulary of language — how words are formed, how they have
developed, how they are used, how they relate in meaning to each other,
and how they are handled in dictionaries.
Lexical study is a widerange domain, involving such diverse areas
as the sense relationships between words, the use of abbreviations, puns
and euphemisms, the compilation of dictionaries and many others.
Thus, lexicology deals with the vocabulary and characteristic features
of words and wordgroups.
The word is the basic unit of the lexical system of a language resulting
from the association of a particular meaning with a particular group of
sounds capable of a particular grammatical employment. It is the
smallest language unit that can stand alone as a complete utterance.
From the lexical aspect the word may express one or several notions
being in different relations among themselves.
The term wordgroup denotes a group of words that exists in the
language as a readymade unit, has the unity of meaning and of
syntactical function.

Modern approaches to the word are characterized by two different
levels of study: syntagmatic and paradigmatic (we owe this 2dimensional model of language structure to the Swiss linguist Ferdinand
de Saussure.) On the paradigmatic (substitution) level, the word is
studied in its relationship with other words in the vocabulary system.
On the syntagmatic (sequence) level, the word is analyzed in its linear
relationships with words in connected speech.
One further important objective of lexicological studies is the study
of the vocabulary as a system. The vocabulary can be studied by means
of two approaches: descriptive or synchronic (from Greek “syn” —
“together with” and “chronos” — “time”) and historical or diachronic
(“dia” — “through”), i.e. the synchronic approach is concerned with
the vocabulary of a language at the given stage of its development, the
diachronic approach deals with the changes and the development of
vocabulary in course of time.

1.2. Branches of Lexicology

What are the constituent parts of lexicology? There are specific
subbranches of lexicology. They are: etymology, wordformation,
semantics, phraseology, lexicography, etc., each of which has its own
aim of study, its own object of investigation, its own methods of
linguistic research. As an example we look at the question of sources
of lexicon.
The great quality of English is its teeming vocabulary, 80 per cent
of which is foreignborn. A glance through a modest etymological
dictionary of the English language will immediately reveal the variety
of immigrants. For example, Arabic is a collection of words that have
passed into English: admiral, magazine, almanac, camel, giraffe, cotton,
mohair, amber, apricot, alcohol, asparagus, candy, coffee, orange, rice,
sugar, sofa.
Precisely because its roots are so varied — Celtic, Germanic
(German, Scandinavian and Dutch) and Romance (Latin, French,
and Spanish) — it has words in common with virtually every language
in Europe: German, Yiddish, Dutch, Flemish, Danish, Swedish,