New Words, New Meanings: Mechanisms of change and lexicogenesis in the English lexicon - Einzelansicht

This course will assume a diachronic perspective and delve into the mechanisms of change in the English lexicon. Specifically, we will examine two types of lexical change: (1) generation of new words (lexicogenesis) as well as loss of existing ones, and (2) change of meaning in already existing words (semantic change). Furthermore, light will be shed on the socio-cultural, psychological and linguistic factors motivating change at the level of the lexicon. Students will also be given the opportunity to practice their newly acquired theoretical knowledge of mechanisms of lexical change in small research projects conducted on the basis of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the Historical Thesaurus of the OED (HTOED) and electronic corpora. 

Basic knowledge of morphology and lexical semantics (for example, as taught in the Introduction to Synchronic Linguistics. Part 1.) is a prerequisite for participation.

Main text books: Kay, C. & Allan, K. (2015). English Historical Semantics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. and Burridge, K. & Bergs, A. (2017). Understanding language change. London ; New York: Routledge.

Excerpts from the course book as well as supplementary materials will be available on Moodle.

Forms of examination: active in-class participation, a presentaiton (30 minutes)