自考英语词汇学名词解释(54个全)

词汇学名词解释
1. Word --- A word is a minimal free form of a language that has a given sound and meaning
and syntactic funtion.
2. Morpheme --- A morpheme is the minimal significant element in the
composition of words.
3. Free morphemes or Content morphemes (Free root) --- They are morphemes
that may constitute words by themselves : cat, walk.
4. Bound Morphemes or Grammatical morphemes --- They are morphemes that
must appear with at least one other morpheme, either bound or free : Catts,
walk+ing.
5. Bound root --- A bound root is that part of the word that carries the
fundamental meaning just like a free root. Unlike a free root, it is a bound form
and has to combine with other morphemes to make words. Take -dict- for
example: it conveys the meaning of
word. With the prefix pre-(=before) we obtain the verb predict meaning
beforehand
6. Affixes --- Affixes are forms that are attached to words or word elements to
modify meaning or funtion.
7. Inflectional morphemes or Inflectional affixes --- Affixes attaches to the end
of words to indicate grammatical relationships are inflectional ,thus known as
inflectional morphemes.
There is the regular plural suffix -s(-es) which is added to nouns such as
machines, desks.
8. Derivational morphemes or Derivational affixes --- Derivational affixes are
affixes added to other morphemes to create new words.
9. Prefixes --- Prefixes are affixes that come before the word, such as, pre+war.
10. Suffixes --- suffixes are affixes that come after the word, for instance,
blood+y.
Derivational morphemes derivational affixes --- A process of forming new words by the addition
of a word element. Such as prefix, suffix, combing form to an already existing word.
Prefixation ---- is the formation of new words by adding prefix or combing form to the base. (It
modify the lexical meaning of the base)
Suffixation--- is the formation of a new word by adding a suffix or combing form to the base and
usually changing the word-class of the base. Such as boy. Boyish (noun- adjective)
11. Root --- A root is the basic form of a word which cannot be further analysed
without total loss of identity.
12. Opaque Words--Words that are formed by one content morpheme only and
cannot be analysed into parts are called opaque words, such as axe, glove.
13. Transparent Words--Words that consist of more than one morphemes and
can be segmented into parts are called transparent words:
workable(work+able), door-man(door+man).

14. Morphs--Morphemes are abstract units, which are realized in speech by
discrete units known as morphs. They are actual spoken, minimal carriers of
meaning.
15. Allomorps--Some morphemes are realized by more than one morph
according to their position in a word. Such alternative morphs are known as
allomorphs. For instance, the morpheme of plurality {-s} has a number of
allomorphs in different sound context, e.g. in cats s, in bags z, in match iz.
16. Derivation or Affixation--Affixation is generally defined as the formation of
words by adding word-forming or derivational affixes to stems. This process is
also known as derivation.
17. Prefixation--Prefixation is the formation of new words by adding prefixes to
stems.
18. Suffixation--Suffixation is the formation of new words by adding suffixes to
stems.
19. Compounding（Compositon）--Compounding is a process of word-formation
by which two independent words are put together to make one word. E.g.
hen-packed; short-sighted.
20. Conversion--Conversion is the formation of new words by converting words
of one class to another class. This process of creating new words without adding
any affixes is also called zero-derivation. E.g. dry (a.)-->to dry.
21. Back-formation-- is a process of word-formation by which a word is created
by the deletion of a supposed affix. E.g. editor entered the language before edit.
22. Abbreviation ( shortening )-- is a process of word-formation by which the
syllables of words are abbreviated or shortened.
23. Abbreviation includes four types : I. Clipped words II. Initialisms III.
Acronyms IV. Blends.
I. Clipped words-- are those created by clipping part of a word, leaving only a
piece of the old word. E.g. telephone-->phone, professional-->pro.
II. Initialisms--are words formed from the initial letters of words and
pronounced as letters. E.g. IMFai em ef=International Monetary Fund.
III. Acronyms--are words formed from the initial letters of word and pronounced
as words. E.g. NATO'neito=North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
IV. Blends--are words that are combined by parts of other words. E.g.
smoke+fog=smog.
24. Polysemy--The same word may have two or more different meanings. This
is known as
through the air
Two approaches to polysemy: Diachronic and Synchronic

Diachronically, we study the growth or change in the semantic structure of a word , or how the
semantic structure of a word has developed from primary meaning to the present polysemic
state .
Synchronically, we are interested in the comparative value of individual meanings and the
interrelation between the central meaning and the secondary meanings.
Two processes leading to polysemy: Radiation and concatenation
Radiation : Semantically, radiation is the process in which the primary or central meaning stands
at the center while secondary meanings radiate from it in every direction like rays.
Concatenation : is a semantic process in which the meaning of a word moves gradually away
from its first sense by successive shifts, like the links of a chain, untill there is no connection
between the sense that is finally developed and the primary meaning.
25. Homonyms--are generally defined as words different in meaning but either
identical both in sound and spelling or identical『a.同一的，完全相同的』 only in
sound or spelling.
26. Perfect Homonyms--are words identical both in sound and spelling,but
different in meaning。
E.g. bear n. a large heavy animal;
bear v. to put up with
27. Homographs--are words identical only in spelling but different in sound and
meaning. E.g.
sow s3u v. to scatter seeds
sow sau n. female adult pig
28. Homophones--are words identical only insound but different in spelling and
meaning. E.g.
dear di3 n. a loved person
deer di3 n. a kind of animal
29. Synonyms--can be defined as words different in sound and spelling but
most nearly alike or exactly the same in meaning. E.g.
maid girl They are the same meaning of
30. Absolute(Complete, Perfect)Synonyms--are words which are identical in
meaning in all its aspects, i.e. both in grammatical meaning and lexical meaning,
including conceptual and associative meanings. For instance, composition
compounding They have the perfect same meaning in Lexicology.
31. Relative (near,partial) synonyms--are similar or nearly the same in
denotation ,but embrace different shades of meaning or different degrees of a
given quality.
Take staggerreeltotter for example. Stagger implies unsteady movement
characterized by a loss of balance and failure to maintain a fixed course. E.g.
stagger under a heavy load; Reel suggests a swaying or lurching so as to appear
on the verge of falling. E.g. The drunken man reeled down the hall; Totter
indicates the uncertain, faltering steps of a feeble old person or of an infant
learning to walk.
32. Sources of Synonyms
I. Borrowing : Native (ask)--French (question)--Latin (interrogate)

II. Dialects and regional English: railway (BrE)--railroad (AmE)
III. Figurative『a. 比喻的，象征的』 and euphemistic 『a.委婉的』use of words:
occupation--walk of life (fig.)
lie--distort the fact (euph.)
IV. Coincidence with idiomatic expressions:
win-- gain the upper hand
hesitate--be in two minds
33. Discrimination of Synonyms
I. Difference in denotation : differ in the range and intensity of meaning.
E.g. extend--increase-- expand (range)
want--wish--desire (intensity)
II. Difference in connotation『n.涵义，含蓄』: differ in the stylistic and emotive
colouring. E.g.
ask (neutral); beg (colloquial); request (formal)
III. Difference in application: in usage. E.g.
empty box vacant seat
34. Antonymy--is concerned with semantic opposition.
35. Antonyms--are words which are opposite in meaning.
36. Types of Antonyms
I. Contradictory terms: mutually opposed; true oppositeness of meaning; no
possibility between them; E.g. alive--dead; present--absent
II. Contrary terms: gradable
E.g. rich--(well-to-do)--poor;
hot--(warm,cool)--cold
III. Relative terms: relational oppositeness
E.g. parent-- child; husband--wife; sell--buy
IV. Semantic incompatibles: contrastingness.
E.g. north,south,east,west;
spring,summer,autumn,winter.
37. Hyponymy --deals with the relationship of semantic inclusion. That is , the
meaning of a more specific word is included in that of another more general
word. These specific words are known as hyponyms. For instance, tulip and rose
are hyponyms of flower. The general word flower is the superordinate term and
the specific ones tulip and rose are the subordinate terms.
38. Extension of meaning (generalization)--is a term referring to the widening
of meaning. It is a process by which a word which originally had a specialized
meaning has now become generalized. for example, originally
denoted mere

39. Narrowing of meaning(specialization)--is a term referring to the shrinking of
meaning. It is a process by which a word of wide meaning acquires a narrower
or specialized sense.
E.g. When garage was first borrowed from French, it meant simply
place
40. Elevation or amelioration『n.改善，改良』--refers to the process by which
words rise from humble beginnings to positions of importance.
E.g. Marshal and constable meant a

41. Degradation or pejoration of meaning--It is a process whereby words of
good origin fall into ill reputation or non-affective words come to be used in
derogatory sense.
E.g. A wench was a
42. Metaphor『n.隐喻』--is a figure of speech containing an implied
comparison, in which a word or phase ordinarily and primarily used of
one thing is applied to another.
E.g. the teeth of a comb; blood bank; He has a heart of stone; The
curtain of night has fallen.
43. Metonymy『n.借代』--is the device in which we name something by
one of its attributes, as in crown for king, the White House for the
President. The kettle is boiling. (kettle for water in the kettle)
44. Synecdoche『n.提喻法』--means using a part for a whole, an individual for a
class, a material for a thing or the reverse of any of these.
For example, bread for food, the army for a soldier.
He is a poor creature. --creature for man
45. Analogy『n.类似，相似』--is a process whereby words are created in imitation
of other words.
For example, telethon an talkathon are created on the model of marathon.
46. Idiom--Strictly speaking, idioms are expressions that are not readily
understandable from their literal meanings of individual elements. For example,
fly off the handle (become excessively angry) and put up with (tolerate). In a
broad sense, idioms may include colloquialisms, catchphrases, slang
expressions ,proverbs,etc.
47. Characteristics of Idioms:
I. Long use
II. Unitary meaning; semantic unity.
III. Syntactic frozenness; structural stability.
48. Figurative idioms--are idioms that include metaphor. Strictly speaking, they
are true idioms. E.g. a dog in the manger.
49. Sources of Figurative idioms:
I. Coloquialisms: big wheel (an influential or important person)

II. Literary expressions: to kill the fatted calf
III. Slang: in the soup(in serious trouble)
IV. Foreign idioms: sour grapes.
50. Motivation--accounts for the connection between the linguistic symbol and
its meaning.
51. Onomatopoeic Motivation --These words were created by imitating the
natural sounds or noises. For example, bang, ping-pang, crow by cocks, etc.
52. Morphological Motivation--Compounds and derived words are
multi-morphemic words and the meaning of many are the sum total of the
morphemes combined. For instance, airmail means to

53. Semantic Motivation--refers to the mental associations suggested by the
conceptual meaning of a word.
E.g. When we say the mouth of a river, we associate the opening part of the
river with the mouth of a human being or an animal.
54. Etymological Motivation--The history of the word explains the meaning of
the word.