Semantic Change

• Semantic change refers to the evolution of word usage—usually to the point where the modern meaning is radically different from the original usage.
• This concept is a critical part of linguistics and language change study.
• There are various types of semantic change including amelioration, pejoration, semantic broadening, semantic narrowing, and semantic shift.
• Amelioration refers to the process through which a word’s connotation becomes more positive over time. A prime example of this is the word “knight” which originally referred to a servant but over time gained the positive connotations of chivalry and honour.
• Conversely, pejoration is when a word’s connotation becomes more negatively charged over time. An example is the word “villain” which originally meant farm worker but now has negative connotations.
• Semantic broadening, also known as generalisation, is when a word begins to encompass more meanings than it initially had. For example, the word “dog” used to refer to a specific breed but now applies to all breeds.
• In contrast to this, semantic narrowing or specialisation is when a word becomes more specific in its meaning. An example of this is “meat,” which used to mean any kind of food but now specifically refers to animal flesh.
• Lastly, semantic shift is when a word changes meaning completely, with no logical connection between the old and new meanings. This is seen with the word “mouse,” which now also means a computer accessory.
• Evidence of semantic change can be found in historical texts. By comparing older and present-day versions of a language, one can analyse the evolution of word meanings.
• Semantic change can be driven by social, cultural, political, and technological changes in a given society.
• Understanding semantic change can provide insights into cultural shifts and mindset changes over time.
• Metaphorical and metonymic changes can also drive semantic change. Metaphoric change is where a word is applied to an object or idea it does not literally denote to suggest analogy, while metonymic change uses a related concept to stand for the thing itself. For example, the use of “crown” to denote monarchy is a case of metonymic change.
• Semantic change also plays a role in language divergence, when a language splits into multiple distinct languages. This can occur when a speech community breaks into smaller groups that are geographically or socially isolated from each other.