Etymology and Semantic Change Concepts

The video tutorial explores etymology, focusing on semantics and meaning change. It discusses the complexity of semantic relationships, types of meaning changes, and the influence of languages on word meanings. The tutorial also covers semantic loans, core vocabulary, and etymology conventions. It highlights the role of dictionaries in etymology and examines folk etymology and onomastics. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of understanding etymology from a linguistic perspective.

What is the primary focus of etymology?

• The study of word usage in literature

• The study of word origins and history

• The study of word meanings

• The study of word sounds

How is the relationship between a word's form and its meaning generally described?

• Transparent

• Opaque

• Predictable

• Consistent

Which of the following is NOT a type of meaning change?

• Abstract to concrete

• General to specific

• Temporal to locative

• Sound to meaning

What is a semantic loan?

• A word that retains its original meaning

• A pre-existing word used to cover a borrowed meaning

• A word that changes meaning over time

• A word borrowed from another language

How does semantic change differ from sound change?

• Sound change is more variable

• Sound change is less predictable

• Semantic change is more systematic

• Semantic change is less systematic

Which type of vocabulary tends to resist meaning change?

• Colloquial expressions

• Core vocabulary

• Technical terms

• Slang

What was the original meaning of the Old English word 'quain'?

• Queen

• Woman

• Monarch

• Wife

What is often indicated in etymological conventions?

• The source language and meaning

• The word's usage in poetry

• The word's popularity

• The word's pronunciation

What is a common source of folk etymology?

• Linguistic analysis

• Scientific research

• Historical documents

• Popular storytelling

What does onomastics study?

• The history of languages

• The etymology of proper names

• The development of dialects

• The evolution of grammar