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Devolution of language (view source)
Revision as of 20:41, February 4, 2009
, 20:41, February 4, 2009no edit summary
There are several modes of semantic change
There are several modes of semantic change
* words acquire a more literal meaning and lose their more abstract connotations (narrowing)
* words acquire a more literal meaning and lose their more abstract connotations (narrowing)
* words acquire a more abstract meaning and lose their literal one (broadening) - so (to take an apposite example for this website) conservative" used to mean "opposed to any change", and now describes a system of political philosophy.
* words acquire a more abstract meaning and lose their literal one (broadening) - so (to take an apposite example for this website) "conservative" used to mean "opposed to any change", and now describes a system of political philosophy.
These changes can take place via metaphor, metonymy, and similar processes.
These changes can take place via metaphor, metonymy, and similar processes.