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ENGL219 English Lexis and Semantics: Lecture 1

ENGL219 English Lexis and Semantics: Lecture 1. Marvin Lam egmarvin@polyu.edu.hk Department of English, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. “ Where ” is lexis and semantics?. In the family of “ Linguistics ”

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ENGL219 English Lexis and Semantics: Lecture 1

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  1. ENGL219 English Lexis and Semantics: Lecture 1 Marvin Lam egmarvin@polyu.edu.hk Department of English, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

  2. “Where” is lexis and semantics? • In the family of “Linguistics” • Wikipedia: “Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context.”

  3. language form, language meaning, and language in context • Phonetics • Phonology • Morphology • Lexis • Syntax • Semantics • Pragmatics • etc…

  4. Lexis / Lexicon / Lexicology / Lexicographer • Lexicology“the study of lexis, understood as the stock of words in a given language, i.e. its vocabulary or lexicon”. • How many words are there? • How many types of word are there?

  5. Lexical vs. Grammatical • Lexical words (content words) • nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs • fairly independent in meaning • open class • Grammatical words (function words) • preposition, articles, conjunctions, etc. • Not making meaning independently • closed class • How about pronoun and negation?

  6. Compare: Text 1 An Ass once found a Lion's skin which the hunters had left out in the sun to dry. He put it on and went towards his native village. All fled at his approach, both men and animals, and he was a proud Ass that day. In his delight he lifted up his voice and brayed, but then every one knew him, and his owner came up and gave him a sound cudgeling for the fright he had caused. And shortly afterwards a Fox came up to him and said: "Ah, I knew you by your voice.” http://www.ivyjoy.com/fables/lionskin.html

  7. Compare: Text 2 An alpha-amino acid has the generic formula H2NCHRCOOH, where R is an organic substituent; the amino group is attached to the carbon atom immediately adjacent to the carboxylate group (the α–carbon). Other types of amino acid exist when the amino group is attached to a different carbon atom; for example, in gamma-amino acids (such as gamma-amino-butyric acid) the carbon atom to which the amino group attaches is separated from the carboxylate group by two other carbon atoms. The various alpha-amino acids differ in which side-chain (R-group) is attached to their alpha carbon […] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amino_acid

  8. Compare: Text 1 AnAssonce found a Lion's skinwhich the huntershadleftout in the suntodry. Heputit on andwenttowards his native village. Allfledat his approach, bothmenandanimals, and he wasaproud Assthatday. In hisdelightheliftedup his voiceandbrayed, but then every one knewhim, and his ownercameup and gavehim asoundcudgelingfor the fright he hadcaused. Andshortlyafterwards aFoxcameup to him and said: "Ah, Iknewyou by yourvoice.” http://www.ivyjoy.com/fables/lionskin.html 56 (58%) vs. 40 (42%)

  9. Compare: Text 2 Analpha-amino acid has the generic formula H2NCHRCOOH, whereR is anorganic substituent; theamino group isattachedto the carbon atom immediately adjacentto the carboxylate group (theα–carbon). Othertypesofamino acid existwhen theamino group is attachedto a different carbon atom; forexample, ingamma-amino acids (such asgamma-amino-butyric acid) thecarbon atom to which the amino group attaches is separated from the carboxylate group by two other carbon atoms.The various alpha-amino acids differ in whichside-chain (R-group) isattachedto their alpha carbon […] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amino_acid 37 (40%) vs. 56 (60%)

  10. Lexical Density • “richness” of vocabulary in a text • type/token ratio • tokens: running words of the text • type: different words in the text • the closer to 1, the higher the density • So what?

  11. Word Meaning • “signifier” and “signified” (Saussure’s approach) • denotationthe relationship that holds between that lexeme and persons, things, places, properties, processes and activities external to the language system • referencethe relationship of reference holds between an expression and what the expression stands for on particular occasions of its utterance • sensea relationship internal to the language system“Don’t put your feet on the table” vs.“It was finalized under the table” • connotationcommonly understood subjective cultural or emotional association

  12. denotation, reference, sense & connotation New boss of HK academy was 'put on leave' Music school in Australia instructed 'under pressure' professor to take break because of controversy - just a day before his appointment in city was announced The professor appointed head of Hong Kong's Academy of Performing Arts has been caught up in controversy back in Australia. Adrian Walter was reportedly "instructed" last week to take leave by his current employer, the Australian National University in Canberra, just one day before his Hong Kong appointment was announced SCMP 16 May 2012

  13. The history of English Vocabulary

  14. Language Families http://www.freelang.net/families/index.php

  15. The Anglo-Saxon Invasions

  16. Synonyms • Germanic Origins • hide • ask • end • tell • get • Latin / French Origins • conceal • request • terminate • inform • acquire

  17. Word Formation

  18. What is the smallest unit? Borobudur is a Buddhist stupa and temple complex in Central Java, Indonesia dating from the 8th century, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is one of world's truly great ancient monuments, the single largest Buddhist structure anywhere on earth, and few who visit fail to be taken by both the scale of place, and the remarkable attention to detail that went into the construction. Set as it is in the heart of the verdant Kedu Plain, the backdrop of mighty active volcanoes only enhances the sense of awe and drama. http://wikitravel.org/en/Borobudur

  19. What is the smallest unit? Borobudur is a Buddh-iststupa and temple complex in Central Java, Indonesia dat-ingfrom the 8th century, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is one of world-'stru-ly great ancient monument-s, the single larg-estBuddh-ist structure any-where on earth, and few who visit fail to be tak-en by both the scale of place, and the re-mark-ableattent-ion to detail that went into the construct-ion. Set as it is in the heart of the verdant Kedu Plain, the back-drop of might-yact-ivevolcano-es only enhanc-es the sense of awe and drama. http://wikitravel.org/en/Borobudur

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