词汇学结课论文VariousMeaningofthewordGreen资料.pdf

词汇学结课论文 班级： 学号： 姓名: Various Meaning of the word “Green” Abstract “Green” is a polysemous word which has a large abundant of meanings. From the ancient time towards contemporary time, the meaning of “green” has been transferred and a supplemented. Further more, with the different usage in different culture. This paper primarily researches the various aspect of the etymology, meaning, morphology and usage, and cultural significance of “green”. Key words: green, lexicology, etymology, usage Introduction Generally, the first meaning of the word “green” that pops to our mind is a kind of color, familiar with “white”, “yellow” and “black”. However, more meaning and further usage of the word “green” are valuable for us to learn. We are Chinese people; it is common that we know little about the meaning of some words, which are not usually used. If we can know more meaning about the English words, it is easier for us to read. What’s more, by studying the origin of the meaning of some words, we also can know those foreign countries’ culture. Color words are used for describing different things in whatever languages. In the Chinese traditional culture, Green ranks the first in the Five Colors, signifying everything grows. In the feudal society, the dress of the government official on a lower level was regularized to be green, so it also symbolizes humble. In English there is a term green-eyed or green with envy, both of them mean jealous and envious. No matter in English or Chinese, this symbolic meaning of green is all identical. Green in the western culture is mainly related to the color of the plants, it is the symbol of vigor and energy. In some certain phrases, green has different meanings. The Origin of “green” The word green comes from the Middle English and Old English word grene, as the meaning of “green, young, immature, raw,“ which, like the German word grü n, has the same root as the words grass and grow. It is from a Common Germanic *gronja-, which is also reflected in Old Norse grænn, Old High German gruoni (but unattested in East Germanic), ultimately from a PIE root *ghre- “to grow“, and root-cognate with grass and to grow. The first recorded use of the word as a color term in Old English dates to ca. AD 700. Thus, the languages mentioned above have old terms for “green“ which are derived from words for fresh, sprouting vegetation. However, comparative linguistics makes clear that these terms were coined independently, over the past few millennia, and there is no identifiable single Proto-Indo-European or word for “green“. For example, the Slavic zelenъ is cognate with Sanskrit hari “yellow, ochre, golden“. The Turkic languages also have jašɨl “green“ or “yellowish green“, compared to a Mongolian word for “meadow“. The Morphology and Usage of “Green” For “green”, it has a lot of derivative words. It also contains so many meanings that diversify with each other. The followings are the usages and variants of “green” Greenhorn is derived from mid 15 century. It means a “young horned animal,“ from green in sense of “new, fresh, recent“ + horn”. This word is applied to new soldiers from 1650s; extended to any inexperienced person by 1680s. Greenhouse is derived from green + house. Greenhouse effect attested from 1937. Green-eyed monster refers to jealousy. Further more, Environmental activists sometimes use “green washing” to describe the advertising of a company which promotes its positive environmental practices to cover up its environmental destruction. Green around the gills is a description of a person who looks physically ill. Greenwich town is based on the south bank of the Thames adjoining London. In old English, it is Grenewic, literally “Green Harbor.“ The Royal Observatory there founded June 22, 1675, by King Charles II specifically to solve the problem of finding longitude while at sea. Having a green thumb means someone is passionate about or talented at gardening. The expression is popularized beginning in 1925 by a BBC gardening program. Transferred Meanings of “Green” A. According to different semantic books, semantic change can be divided into many types. But types of semantic change of “green” generally can be divided into two types. 1. Generalization, for instance, A. Green room means a room at a theater where actors rest when not onstage, or a room at a television studio where guests wait before going on-camera. It originated in the late 17th century from a room of that color at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London. 2. Specialization, for instance, Greenmail is a term used in finance and corporate takeovers. It refers to the practice of a company paying a high price to buy back shares of its own stock to prevent an unfriendly takeover by another company or businessman. It originated in the 1980s on Wall Street, and originates from the green of dollars. B. “Green” is the cold color; however it is connected with hope and life. It also has transferred meaning with the time goe。