文档介绍：Chapter 1
A General Survey of English Vocabulary
I. Definition of Lexicology
The term “lexicology” was originally formed with two Greek morphemes. The two morphemes are separately “lexicon” and “logie”. “Lexicon” refers to “word” and “logie” refers to “learning” or “the study of”. So “lexicology” means “the science of words”.
Lexicology is a branch of linguistics concerned with the study of vocabulary of a given language. It deals with words, their origin, development, history, structure, meaning, and application. In short, it is the study of the signification and application of words (AITEL). Lexicology is a branch of linguistics, inquiring into the origins and meanings of words (WNWD). English Lexicology aims at investigating and studying the morphological structures of English words and word equivalents, their semantic structures, relations, historical development, formation, and usages.
Morphology
Lexicology
Semantics
II. Nature of Lexicology
1. Importance of Lexicology
As we all know, language study involves the study of speech sounds, grammar, and vocabulary. But most of all, vocabulary has proved to be the most important and the most difficult one in the study of the language.
English lexicology is a theoretically-oriented course. It is chiefly concerned with the basic theories of words in general and of English words in particular. However, it is a practi