Semantic evolution of a lexeme in historical context: analysis of changes in its meaning and usage

Tetiana Vydaichuk; Natalia Rusachenko; Kateryna Ladonia; Olena Korotun; Nataliia Lakhno

doi:10.31893/multiscience.2024ss0213

Keywords:

lexical semantics

historical context

language change

word meaning evolution

historical linguistics

Abstract

The research in the field of language history should be based on the latest achievements and developments in philology, history, anthropology, and pedagogy. The semantic evolution of a lexeme should be relevant for translators, artists, and literary critics. The study aims to establish the effectiveness of different approaches to defining the semantic evolution of a lexeme. Also, it seeks to determine the influence of changes in the meaning and usage of a lexeme on the analysis of changes in the meaning and use of a lexeme, taking into account the historical context. In addition, it is necessary to consider an assessment by students and teachers regarding the effectiveness of using knowledge of language history and the historical context of lexeme evolution within translation activities. The study employs a comprehensive approach to a methodology. The main methods used in the research are the descriptive method, as well as analysis and synthesis. They are used to present theoretical material. Furthermore, a comparative method was used to show the evolutionary processes of changes in the usage and meanings of lexemes. Separately, the author also employed survey and observation methods. The main hypothesis assumes that the practical application of innovative approaches and principles to the reconstruction of lexeme semantics evolution will demonstrate an increase in accuracy and clarity of translation, its interpretation, and revision. Therefore, it will facilitate and improve the quality of work with a text. The result of this study is a proof of the effectiveness of using different methods and approaches to establish the evolution of lexical semantics, as well as the specifics of meanings and usages, where knowledge of the historical context is essential. The collected data indicate the prospects for implementing projects in translation pedagogy, language history, and literature.
References
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Vydaichuk, T., Rusachenko, N., Ladonia, K., Korotun, O., & Lakhno, N. (2024). Semantic evolution of a lexeme in historical context: analysis of changes in its meaning and usage. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 6, 2024ss0213. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2024ss0213

[1] Akimova, N., Akimova, A., & Akimova, A. (2022). The study of the genesis of internet texts understanding in adolescence depending on the level of mental and speech development. Psycholinguistics, 31(1), 6-24. http.doi.org/10.31470/2309-1797-2022-31-1-6-24

[2] Carling, G., Cronhamn, S., Lundgren, O., Bogren, V. & Frid, J. (2023). The evolution of lexical semantics dynamics, directionality, and drift, Frontiers in Communication, 8. http.doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2023.1126249

[3] Chen, J., Song, N., Su, Y., Zhao, S. & Zhang, Y. (2022). Learning user sentiment orientation in social networks for sentiment analysis. Information Sciences, 616, 526-538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2022.10.135

[4] Dellert, J. & Buch, A. (2018). A new approach to concept basicness and stability as a window to the robustness of concept list rankings. Language Dynamics and Change, 8(2), 157-181. http.doi.org/10.1163/22105832-00802001

[5] Durkin, P. (2009). The Oxford guide to etymology. OUP Oxford.

[6] François, A. (2008). Semantic maps and the typology of colexification. Intertwining polysemous networks across languages, in From Polysemy to Semantic Change: Towards a Typology of Lexical Semantic Associations, Amsterdam: Benjamins, 163-215.

[7] Georgakopoulos, T. & Polis, S. (2021). Lexical diachronic semantic maps: Mapping the evolution of time-related lexemes. Journal of Historical Linguistics, 11(3), 367-420. http.doi.org/10.1075/jhl.19018.geo

[8] Haspelmath, M. (2003). The Geometry of Grammatical Meaning: Semantic Maps and Cross-Linguistic Comparison. The New Psychology of Language, 2. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 211-242.

[9] Jackson, J. C., Watts, J., Henry, T. R., List, J. M., Forkel, R., Mucha, P. J., et al. (2019). Emotion semantics show both cultural variation and universal structure. Science 366, 1517-1522. http.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaw8160

[10] Jayashree, R. (2017). A Study on Innovative Teaching Learning Methods for Undergraduate Students. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, 6(11), 32-34. http://www.ijhssi.org/papers/v6(11)/Version-2/E0611023234.pdf

[11] Karjus, A., Blythe, R. A., Kirby, S., Wang, T. & Smith, K. (2021). Conceptual similarity and communicative need shape colexification: an experimental study. Cognitive Sci., 45, 1-30. http.doi.org/10.1111/cogs.13035

[12] Kiraly, D. (2015). Occasioning Translator Competence: Moving Beyond Social Constructivism toward a Postmodern Alternative to Instructionism. Translation and Interpreting Studies, 10(1), 8-32. http.doi.org/10.1075/tis.10.1.02kir

[13] Kirby, K. R., Gray, R. D., Greenhill, S. J., Jordan, F. M., Gomes-Ng, S., Bibiko, H. J., et al. (2016). D-PLACE: a global database of cultural, linguistic, and environmental diversity. PLoSONE, 11, 1-14. http.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0158391

[14] Kuiper, K., Fromont, R., & Gerhard, D. (2018). Polysemy and word frequency: a replication. Journal of Research Design & Statistics in Linguistics & Communication Science, 4, 144-155. http.doi.org/10.1558/jrds.33751

[15] Lakoff, G. (1987). Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things: What Categories Reveal About the Mind. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

[16] List, J. M. (2018). CLICS2. An improved database of cross-linguistic colexifications assembling lexical data with the help of cross-linguistic data formats. Linguistic Typology 22, 277-306. http.doi.org/10.1515/lingty-2018-0010

[17] Lomax, A., Arensberg, C. M., Berleant-Schiller, R., Dole, G. E., Hippler, A. E., Jensen, K. E. & Turyahikayo-Rugyema, B. (1977). A worldwide evolutionary classification of cultures by subsistence systems. Current Anthropology, 18(4), 659-708. http.doi.org/10.1086/201975

[18] Matiash, I. (2015). The dynamics of lexeme semantic structure of the word ‘father’ in the context of British linguistic worldview evolution. Scientific Notes of Ostroh Academy National University, Philology series, 51, 264-267.

[19] Murphy, M. L. (2010). Lexical Meaning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 43-47.

[20] PACTE (2018). Competence Levels in Translation: Working towards a European Network. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer, 12(2), 111-131 http.doi.org/10.1080/1750399X.2018.1466093

[21] Popovych, I., Semenov, O., Hrys, A., Aleksieieva, M., Pavliuk, M., & Semenova, N. (2022). Research on mental states of weightlifters’ self-regulation readiness for competitions. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 22(5), 1134-1144. http.doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2022.05143

[22] Rzymski, C., Tresoldi, T., Greenhill, S. J., Wu, M. S., Schweikhard, N. E., Koptjevskaja-Tamm, M., et al. (2020). The database of cross-linguistic colexifications, reproducible analysis of cross-linguistic polysemies, Scientific Data, 7, 13. http.doi.org/10.1038/s41597-019-0341-x

[23] Senthilkumar, V. & Kannappa, R. (2017). Impact of Innovative Teaching and Learning Methodologies for Higher Educational Institutions with reference to Trichirappalli District. IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSR-JBM), 19(7), 88-92. http.doi.org/10.9790/487X-1907028892

[24] Traugott, E. C. & Dasher, R. B. (2002). Regularity in Semantic Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[25] Ullmann, S. (1966). Semantic universals. Universals of language.

[26] Vejdemo, S. & Hörberg, T. (2016). Semantic factors predict the rate of lexical replacement of content words. PLoS ONE, 11. http.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0147924

Abstract

References

How to cite