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1、本科毕业论文 英语词汇的语境意义分析学生姓名： 学生学号： 200310206033 院 （系）： 外国语学院 年级专业：2003级英语本科1班指导教师： 二七年五月Analysis of the Contextual Meaningof English WordsHuang RongUnder the Supervision ofHe XuedeSchool of Foreign Languages and CulturesPanzhihua UniversityMay 2007ContentsAbstractIKey WordsI摘 要II关键词IIIntroduction1I. Cont
2、extual Meaning and Figures of Speech3A. Metonymy3B. Metaphor4C. Allusion5II. Contextual Meaning and Culture6A. Idioms7B. Culture of Different Nations8III. Contextual Meaning and Technical Area9IV. Contextual Meaning and Humor10Conclusion12Acknowledgements15Bibliography16AbstractWith the development
3、of science and technology, more and more words appear to express new concepts, but not every concept has its own word. Therefore, many common words are used to express some new concepts, then a common word has its special meaning due to the place where it is used, namely contextual meaning. As for c
4、ontext, it is the environment that the word is used; what is more, it often determines the exact meaning of words. As an English language learner, one should not only understand the words, but also make use of them flexibly. In this paper, the author divides context into four parts: figures of speec
5、h, culture, technical area and humor. Since metonymy, metaphor and allusion are main parts of figures of speech, so the author analyzed them in detail, while the effects of culture on the contextual meaning consists of the effects of idioms on it and the effects of culture of different nations on it
6、. What is more, detailed introduction is obtained for adopting for adopting of many examples. The analysis on contextual meaning of English words is able to provide a clue for understanding the meaning of English words used in some special context rightly as well as to avoid embarrassment caused by
7、interpreting a word literally.Key WordsEnglish words; context; contextual meaning摘要随着科技的发展，英语中越来越多的新词用于表达一个新的概念，但并非每一个新的概念的出现都伴随一个新词的出现。因此很多普通词也用于表达某个特定的概念，所以英语中单词就因为所处的位置不同而具有不同的意义，这也就是语境意义。作为一个英语语言学习者，我们不仅仅是为了认识语言，我们还要灵活运用这些词汇。在本文中，作者把英语词汇语境分为四个部分：修辞，文化，科技和幽默等。其中修辞主要以比喻，引用和借代为代表分别加以详细分析，文化语境主要以谚语和
8、不同国家的文化为代表加以分析。值得一提的是文中采用多个例句进行说明能让我们得到详细的介绍。通过文章我们可以深入了解各种语境对英语词汇意义的影响，这对我们以后的准确理解英语词汇在句中的意义提供线索，也避免了由于望文生义而引起的尴尬。关键词英语词汇; 语境; 语境意义IntroductionG. Leech, a famous linguist proposes three types of meaning in his Semantics, first published in 1974, as followings: lexical meaning, grammatical meaning a
9、nd contextual meaning. Leech says that lexical meaning is the meaning of an isolated word in a dictionary, and this component of meaning is identical in all forms of the word. Here is an example for illustration: The word forms begin, begins, began, begun, beginning possess different grammatical mea
10、ning of tenses, persons and so on. In each of these forms one finds the same lexical meaning expressing the process of movement.Grammatical meaning is the component of meaning identical in individual forms of different words. For instance, the tense meaning in the word-forms worked, studied, taught,
11、 or the plural meaning girl, girls or the case meaning boys, words and so on.Except for lexical meaning and grammatical meaning, contextual meaning depends upon context. Different contexts give words different meanings. Therefore, one should pay close attention to the types of context. Generally spe
12、aking, there are four types of contexts: figures of speech, culture, technical area and humor.Figures of speech refer to metonymy, metaphor, allusion and so on. That is to say, the contextual meaning ,which out of all the possible meanings that the original related or suggested, including the charac
13、ters of the original and enlightenments from the original, is the acceptable meaning to the word.The News World Encyclopedia defines culture as “it is the totality of the spiritual, intellectual, and artistic attitudes shared by a group, including its tradition, habits, social customs, morals, laws
14、and social relations. Sociologically, every society, on every level, has its culture.” (Guo&Li, 2003) Consequently, English word meaning, to some extent depends on the English culture.It is natural that in the course of the development of society a number of new words are needed to describe new idea
15、s. So there has been a tendency that many common words are used in technical area to put across a technical term.Humor is an art of all language. Many words, polysemants in particular are used to give rise to amusement and relaxation, and the meanings of those words are often related to the humor co
16、ntext.In English language, the context generally shows in what sense, which includes primary sense and figurative sense the word is used. When used literally, words have their original meaning; when used figuratively, words have symbolic meaning. The meanings of these words are determined by the con
17、text. In another word, the context determines which meaning out of all possible meaning is to be attached to the word. Therefore only in the context of social life and activities are English words significant.I. Contextual Meaning and Figures of SpeechIt is known to all that language is the means of
18、 communication. In communication, figurative language is often employed by writers or speakers to make his idea concrete and vivid. A fresh, proper figure of speech can appeal to the imagination, create mental pictures and make the speech or writing vivid, impressive and interesting. English, as a c
19、ommunication device, are full of figures of speech. Most of figures of speech are based on resemblance in image. They may be direct or implied comparison, likening inanimate objects to people or addressing them as such. Some figures of speech are based on the association between the things and peopl
20、e, between the part and the whole, or between opposite things, etc. Others come into being through usage, proverbial relationship or exaggeration. To English learners, what matters after all is not exactly how many kinds of figures of speech there are in English language, but how well one can learn
21、to understand and even make use of them. Words to an essay are bricks to a building, or molecules to a substance, small as they are, unimportant they are not, to some extent, the figures of speech can be treated as the contexts of English words. Therefore, in order to study the contextual meaning of
22、 English words, it is necessary to analyze the meaning of English words which used figuratively. So the author in this paper analyzes some common figures of speech context in English language.A. MetonymyAs we know the name of an object or concept are often replaced with some other words related to o
23、r suggested by the original, so the original of course has its contextual meaning. Here is an example for illustration:The Cross, the Crown, the Scales may allAs well have bee the Sword-Robert Frast In this sentence, the Cross does not mean a shape like an upright post with a bar cross it, but stand
24、 for the Christian religion; the Crown is not a circular decoration usually made of gold with jewels in it, which a king or queen wears on their head, but represent power; the Scales is not a machine for weighing things, but stand for trade. Another example as followings may be much clearer. Wheneve
25、r you come into a DIY restaurant, you can see an advertisement mark Beware of the Bottle. Does it mean that you should be careful with the glass or plastic container for liquids? In fact, the word bottle presents a definite picture of the wine container, and this sentence may remind you beware of dr
26、inking wine. It is a common phenomenon that metonymy is used in social communication. It is difficult to list all the examples that metonymy is used in our life, but we can clearly understand the meaning of the word which used in metonymy through this conclusion: In metonymy, since the name of an ob
27、ject or concept is often replaced with some other words related to or suggested by the original, so the contextual meaning of the words refers to the meaning which the original related to or suggested.B MetaphorMetaphors are found in all languages. They can make language vivid; what is more, they ca
28、n bring so much life to language. English is rich in metaphors and one often finds expressions such as following: She has a heart of stone-she is callous, iron-hearted. He is a fox-he is sly, cunning, crafty, and tricky.In those examples above, it can be found that stone and fox are used to make str
29、iking comparison; one can image how dull the statement would be without the metaphors. But metaphors in English language may not be easily understood by English language learners, they may have come across sentences like Tom have done.Tom saw his friend John was bullied on his way home, but did not
30、help John. “You chicken”, John said, looking at Tom with contempt.Students may have been puzzled, unless they know that chicken here means a coward, a person without courage.From the examples cited above, it is clear that people often associate certain qualities with certain creatures or objects. Th
31、ese qualities often arouse reactions or emotion. Similarly, metaphorical expressions are very common in speech and text. They serve the purpose of relating something that is difficult or abstract to something that is more concrete or imaginable. Besides embodying the overall meaning of something in
32、more concrete terms, they also help us describe and convey our feelings and attitude about people and situations. In contrast, there is often a background for such association to the speaker, but the qualities that are associated, or the emotions that are aroused, may not always be understood by the
33、 language learners. As a result, one thing can be concluded is that the contextual meaning of words used in metaphor often refers to the characters of the original.C AllusionIt is well-know that in most languages people are likely to embellish their speech or writing in reference to characters or ev
34、ents that has dramatic and vivid connotation. English has a tremendous amount of allusions which result from mythology, fables, historical figures or events, fairy tales, the Bible, famous literary works and so on. Such references-allusions not only make the language richer, but also make people who
35、 use it much more relaxed and easier. But occasionally because allusion is a reflection of the rich culture heritage of the people who use it, such allusions are not always easy to understand, especially for foreign language learner. It is impossible for applying a language without understanding wor
36、ds meaning, for example: This is the Cadillac of Chinese tea.That project, which seemed so promising, turned out to be a Pandoras Box.In the former example, people may be puzzled by the Cadillac, but the background information may help you. In the 20th century, hi-tech gives birth to hi-tech product
37、s, then hi-tech products lead to brand-name products, after it brand-name products become allusions which go beyond their original meaning of their own. Cadillac is a famous car, usually refers to things of high quality. So the former sentence means this is the first-rate Chinese tea. Similarly, peo
38、ple often say Cadillac of German beer.In the latter example, language learners may be puzzled because Pandoras Box here is an allusion. In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman sent to the earth by the God as a form of punishment. Jupiter gave her a box which she was to give to the man who ma
39、rried her. When the box was finally opened, all the evils that were in it flew out, and since then have caused trouble to mankind. So Pandoras Box usually means a present or thing which may seem valuable, but brings trouble and misfortune.As analyzed above, every allusion may have its origin and acc
40、epted meaning; usually the meaning of English words used in allusion can not be taken literally. For example, the old man of the sea does not mean the old man who lives on the sea but a boring heavy burden or a nuisance. So in a word, in allusion, the contextual meaning of words refers to the enligh
41、tenments form the allusion.It seems clear that during comprehension, both figurative and literal information are available, but figurative language has the effect of making the abstract more concrete. Figurative language also provides the emotional and attitudes about the speaker. Although occasiona
42、lly words used in figures of speech bring out misunderstanding to them, one can make close acquaintance with them and make good use of them through above analysis. Consequently, the analysis on contextual meaning of English words caused by figures of speech helps us not only understand what we read
43、and heard, but also appreciate more fully the art of the English language.II. Contextual Meaning and CultureAs it is known to all, the culture refers to the total pattern of beliefs, customs, institutions, and techniques that characterize the life of a human community. So language cannot be separate
44、d from culture. Language reflects the culture of a nation on the one hand and is greatly influenced by that particular culture of a nation on the other hand. As a result, words, as the basic component of a language, are influenced and shaped by culture. It is just as a linguist Lado has said “the me
45、anings of words are usually culturally determined or modified. They represent an analysis of the universe as grasped in a culture.”(Ogden, 1923)It is interesting that different language might use different color terms to describe the same object or phenomenon. In fact, black tea is not black, but re
46、d in color. English words are often interpreted literally and misunderstood by English language learners for lacking of culture information. The title First Lady for the wife of the U.S president may cause misunderstanding when some people have an assumption that “there is a first lady, there must b
47、e a second lady, and may even a third, or even more, polygamy in the White House!” To get rid of analogous misunderstanding, it is necessary to take culture information into account to understand the meaning of English culture words accurately. Comparatively speaking, idioms and culture of different
48、 nations are more difficult to English language learners.A IdiomsNida (1964) once pointed out culture has a great effect on the meaning of idioms; consequently, it is difficult to comprehend words with regardless of culture context. Idioms in broad sense may include set phrases, proverbs, sayings, epigrams, slang expressions, colloquialisms, and quotations and so on. (Guo&Li, 2003)Idiom is an important part of the language and culture of society, they are often hard to understand, but people may get some en
