Chapter one Introduction What Is Lexicology? Lexicology isa branch of linguistics dealing with the vocabulary ofa language and the properties of words as the main units of language. Lexi- meaning 'word, phrase', hence lexicons - 'having to do with words', and -logos which denotes 'a department of knowledge'. Thus, the literal meaning of lexicology is the 'science of the word'. Its Relation to Other Disciplines English lexicology itself isa subbranch of linguistics. But it embraces other academic disciplines, such as general linguistics, morphology, semantics, etymology, stylistics, ics, lexicography and history of the people . Each of them has been established asa discipline in its own right. The Theoretical Basis for the Investigation of Modern English Lexicology To investigate any linguistic problem and to study any particular language without a correct theoretical basis, the result is by no means essful. The Theoretical Basis: Dialectical Materialism and Historical Materialism This theoretical basis explains with remarkable clarity and precision the essential nature of language asa social phenomenon, its relation to thought and fundamental laws of its development. Some Fundamental Ideas to Be Clarified at the Outset (1) The vocabulary of any language never remains stable. (2) The word is the principal and basic unit of the language. (3) The word isa two-facet unit possessing both form and content. (4) Structurally words are inseparable lexical units taking shape ina definite system of grammatical forms and syntactic characteristics. (5) Two principal approaches to linguistic investigation: the synchronic approach and the diachronic approach The Aims and Significance of the Course of Modern English Lexicology Modern English Lexicology aims at giving a systematic description of the word-stock of Modern English. It investigates the problem of word-structure and word-formation in Modern English, the semantic structure of English words and
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