英语词汇学教程夏洋邵林主编unit8.ppt

1、Word Meaning and Motivation词义与理据Unit 81conventionality conventionality&motivation&motivationmain types of main types of word meaningword meaning2341 Conventionality and Motivation1 Conventionality and MotivationA.Conventionality:A.Conventionality:There is no intrinsic relation between the sound-symb

2、ol and its sense.房子房子 dom housecasa maison5 “Whats in a name?That which we call a rose.Whats in a name?That which we call a rose.By any other name would smell as sweet.”By any other name would smell as sweet.”-Shakespeare:-Shakespeare:Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet,Act II,Scene 2,Act II,Scene 2 姓名

3、本来是没有意义的；姓名本来是没有意义的；我们叫做玫瑰的这种花，我们叫做玫瑰的这种花，要是换个名字，要是换个名字，它还是同样芬芳。它还是同样芬芳。（朱生豪（朱生豪 译）译）6B.MotivationB.Motivation 1.Definition:1.Definition:MotivationMotivation refers to the connection between word-refers to the connection between word-symbol and its sense.symbol and its sense.E.g.:E.g.:electroelectro

4、cardiocardiogramgram antianti-war-war insectiinsecticidecide2.Motivation can arise 2.Motivation can arise in three major waysin three major waysSemantic motivation:(meaning)3.Morphological motivation:(form)2.Phonetic motivation:(sound)1.78 1)Phonetic motivation:(sound)1)Phonetic motivation:(sound)ti

5、ck-tack,cuckoo,meow tick-tack,cuckoo,meow cock-a-du-dow-doocock-a-du-dow-doo(echoic/onomatopoeic words)(echoic/onomatopoeic words)The test of genuinely onomatopoeic word is its The test of genuinely onomatopoeic word is its intelligibility to a foreigner who has no knowledge of the intelligibility t

6、o a foreigner who has no knowledge of the language in question.language in question.2)Morphological motivation:(form)2)Morphological motivation:(form)shoe-makershoe-makerflat-footflat-footnight-capnight-capsweet-toothsweet-tooth这些汉字啥意思？这些汉字啥意思？v孬孬v甭甭v嫑嫑v歪歪v忈忈v槑槑v奤奤v覅覅v奣奣v氼氼9v嘦嘦v勥勥v巭巭v恏恏v兲兲1011 3)Sem

7、antic motivation:(meaning)3)Semantic motivation:(meaning)It is a kind of mental association;the connection It is a kind of mental association;the connection between literal meaning and figurative meaning.between literal meaning and figurative meaning.e.g.:e.g.:a a stonystony heart hearta a grassygra

8、ssy carpet carpetThe The kettlekettle is boiling.is boiling.He manages to earn He manages to earn breadbread.122.2.TypesTypes of Word Meaning of Word Meaning A.Grammatical MeaningA.Grammatical Meaning word-class/part of speechword-class/part of speech inflectional paradigm inflectional paradigm B.Le

9、xical Meaning B.Lexical Meaning denotative meaningdenotative meaning connotative meaning connotative meaning social meaning social meaning affective meaning affective meaning13A.Grammatical Meaning:A.Grammatical Meaning:1.Word-class/part of speech1.Word-class/part of speechgirl(singular)girls(plural

10、)girl(singular)girls(plural)The dog bit the man.(SVO)The dog bit the man.(SVO)modern(a.)modernize(v.)modernization(n.)modern(a.)modernize(v.)modernization(n.)2.Inflectional paradigm2.Inflectional paradigmthe set of grammatical forms of a wordthe set of grammatical forms of a word write writes write

11、writes wrote written wrote written14B.Lexical MeaningB.Lexical Meaning 1.denotative meaning:1.denotative meaning:（外延（外延/概念意义）概念意义）a.the central meaning/definition in the dictionary b.relatively stablefather/dad/daddy/papa/male parentc.some technical words have only denotative M.cardiovascular muscul

12、oskeletalelectrocardiogram15 2.Connotative Meaning:2.Connotative Meaning:(内涵意义）内涵意义）the emotional association which a word or a phrase the emotional association which a word or a phrase suggests in ones mind.suggests in ones mind.E.g.:E.g.:MOTHERMOTHER love/tenderness/care love/tenderness/care GIRLG

13、IRL weaker sex/frail/prone to tearsweaker sex/frail/prone to tearsE.g.:owl/dragonE.g.:owl/dragon16vConnotation pertaining to individualConnotation pertaining to individualDifferent because of personal experiencesMother for CinderellavConnotation pertaining to a groupConnotation pertaining to a group

14、Different because of the education,physical environment and culture,etc.Road for Eskimos in Greenland173.Social/Stylistic Meaning:3.Social/Stylistic Meaning:（社会社会/文体意义）文体意义）The appropriateness of language finds its way in the following The appropriateness of language finds its way in the following a

15、spects:aspects:1)The social relationship between Speakers and correspondents;1)The social relationship between Speakers and correspondents;2)The specific occasion;2)The specific occasion;3)The subject matter;3)The subject matter;4)The mode of discourse.4)The mode of discourse.18 The Five Clocks-Mart

16、in Joos(1967)The Five Clocks-Martin Joos(1967)1)frozen style1)frozen style 2)formal style 2)formal style3)consultative style3)consultative style4)casual style4)casual style5)intimate style5)intimate style Note:Note:None of these style is better than any other;None of these style is better than any other;appropriateness is the key to the good use of the various appropriateness is the key to the good use of the various styles.styles.19 lA foreign-born plumber in the New York City wrote to the Fede