Modern English Vocabulary: An Interactive Guide
Chapter 1: Foundations of Word and Lexicology
1.1 Exploring the Concept of Word
1.1.1 Existence of Words: The nature of word boundaries raises questions. Do we really know what constitutes a word?
1.1.2 Bloomfield's Definition: Linguist Leonard Bloomfield presents a scientific perspective, defining words as units of meaning with distinct phonetic forms.
1.1.3 Characteristics of Words: Words exhibit properties like fixed spelling, structure, and shared meaning.
1.2 Organizing the English Lexicon
1.2.1 Syntagmatic and Paradigmatic Relations: Words interact in sentences (syntagmatic) and within their usage patterns (paradigmatic).
1.2.2 Word Classes: Categorizing words into groups like nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs creates a framework for understanding their roles.
1.2.3 Lexical Fields: Words are grouped into coherent categories like food, science, or art.
1.3 Lexicology and Linguistic Layers
1.3.1 Lexicology and Phonology: The connection between word forms and their sound systems is crucial in lexicology.
1.3.2 Lexis and Grammar: Lexical patterns coexist with grammatical rules, shaping language's complexity.
1.3.3 Lexicology and Semantics: Understanding meaning lies at the heart of lexicology, examining word meanings and their relationships.
Chapter 2: Historical Evolution of English Vocabulary
2.1 Indo-European Roots: English descends from the vast Indo-European language family.
2.2 The English People and Language: The development of English reflects the history and interactions of its speakers.
2.3 Three Eras of Vocabulary Growth
Chapter 3: Borrowings in English Vocabulary
3.1 English Word-Stock Size: The sheer number of words in the language.
3.2 Native vs. Borrowed Words: The distinction between indigenous and borrowed elements.
3.3 Borrowing Overview: The significance of borrowing in shaping English.
3.4 Major Borrowing Sources
3.5 Minor Borrowings: A glimpse into lesser-known influences.
3.6 Impact of Borrowings: How borrowed words enrich and evolve the language.
Conclusion: This book delves into the intricacies of English vocabulary, tracing its evolution and borrowing patterns.
Exercises for each chapter follow to reinforce understanding and exploration.