In order to understand the different reasonings why meanings have changed the way they did, it is first necessary to understand what exactly is meant by the term how words can change their meaning and what results from these changes. The first part of this paper therefore consists of a short description of the most common ways in which words can change their meanings; in addition to that, there will be an overview of some basic types (or results) of semantic change. Afterwards, there will be a discussion of the different approaches of finding reasons for semantic change, according to the division given above. Finally, there is also a section with the most obvious issues in criticism, followed by a short conclusion.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Semantic Change – Basics
2.1 Categories of Semantic Change
2.2 Results of Semantic Change
3. Reasons for Semantic Change
3.1. General reasons for semantic change
3.1.1. Meillet’s distinction in Social, Historical and Linguistic Reasons
3.1.2. Metaphors, Euphemisms and Taboo as Reasons for Semantic Change
3.1.3. The avoidance of excessive homonymy
3.1.4. The avoidance of synonymy
3.1.5. Jost Trier’s Wortfeldtheorie
3.2. Individual Speaker Causes
3.3. The Invisible Hand Explanation
4. Criticism
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines the underlying triggers of semantic change in the English language, exploring why and how meanings evolve over time. It investigates the complex relationship between individual speaker intentions and societal language development, analyzing various theoretical frameworks that attempt to explain these shifts.
- Categorization of semantic change and its linguistic results
- General (macro-perspective) vs. individual (micro-perspective) causes
- Metaphorical and sociolinguistic drivers of meaning shifts
- The role of communicative needs and semantic fields
- The Invisible Hand theory as an integrative explanatory model
Excerpt from the Book
3.3. The Invisible Hand Explanation
A more integrative approach to explaining semantic change is the Invisible Hand Explanation. First of all, the central questions underlying the other approaches presented, “Why does language change?” or “Why do speakers change their language?”, are claimed to be to some extent misleading. Keller calls the first question the organistische, the second one the mechanistische (Keller, 23) version, both of which he considers to be of little use for explaning language change. He argues that the first way of asking the question implies that language is an organism with inherent powers, a natural phenomenon (cf Keller 87); the second question, on the other hand, sounds too active, as if humans consciously and intentionally changed their language (cf Keller, 25), as if language was an artefact (cf Keller 87).
Keller himself, however, explains language as being a phenomenon of a different, a third, kind (cf Keller, 87):
Ein Phänomen der dritten Art ist die kausale Konsequenz einer Vielzahl individueller intentionaler Handlungen, die mindestens partiell ähnlichen Intentionen dienen (Keller, 93)
Phenomena of this kind can be explained by using Invisible Hand Explanations. Keller gives the example of dirt tracks which connect buildings on a university campus. These dirt tracks seem to be created according to economical and rational principles, way more so than the trails built after the architects’ plans; they just connect the buildings in the shortest possible way, and after being used as a shortcut by many students, the dirt track manifests itself, since the grass is trampled down and only the bare soil visible. (cf Keller 100)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines semantic change as a reciprocal relation between names and meanings and introduces the three major approaches to reasoning about why words change.
2. Semantic Change – Basics: This section details various ways words change their meaning, such as metaphor and metonymy, and outlines the results of these processes, including broadening and narrowing.
3. Reasons for Semantic Change: This core chapter explores the diverse explanations for semantic change, ranging from general societal factors and semantic fields to individual speaker motivations and the Invisible Hand theory.
4. Criticism: This chapter critically evaluates existing theories, highlighting the difficulty in finding a single, all-encompassing explanation for linguistic evolution.
5. Conclusion: The paper summarizes the findings, noting that while various approaches offer valuable insights, no single theory is sufficient to explain the complexity of semantic change.
Keywords
Semantic change, Historical linguistics, Metaphor, Metonymy, Euphemism, Semantic fields, Invisible Hand explanation, Language economy, Homonymy, Meaning shift, Sociolinguistics, Language innovation, Word meaning, Communication, Diachronic linguistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on identifying and analyzing the reasons behind semantic change in the English language, investigating how and why words acquire new meanings over time.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The work covers categorization of semantic change, macro and micro-perspectives on linguistic evolution, the influence of social and cognitive factors, and various theoretical models like the Invisible Hand explanation.
What is the main research question or goal?
The primary goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of different linguistic approaches to semantic change and to evaluate which theories best explain why words evolve.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The paper utilizes a literature-based theoretical analysis, comparing different schools of thought (e.g., Meillet, Trier, Keller) to synthesize a coherent understanding of the subject.
What does the main body of the paper address?
It addresses the mechanisms of change (metaphor, metonymy, etc.), the consequences of change (broadening, narrowing), and a detailed critique of the theories regarding "why" semantic shifts occur.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include semantic change, historical linguistics, Invisible Hand theory, metaphor, semantic fields, and language innovation.
How does the Invisible Hand theory differ from traditional explanations?
Unlike organistic or mechanistic views, the Invisible Hand theory suggests that language change is the unintended result of numerous individual, intentional actions that aggregate into a structural change.
Why does the author consider semantic change a "bottomless pit"?
The author uses this metaphor to describe the vast complexity of the field, suggesting that there is no final solution to the question of "why," as new factors and evolving communication methods constantly create new variables.
- Quote paper
- Judith Schwickart (Author), 2007, Reasons for semantic change in the english language, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/74910
