Branches of linguistics. Synchronic vs diachronic approaches to the language study. Lexicology – ‘the science of the word’ Lexicon

Theoretical and Practical Value

-a systematic description of Modern English lexicon;

-a thorough study of the relations existing between various lexical layers of the English vocabulary;

-an in depth analysis of the specific laws and regulations that govern word-stock development at the present time;

-a comprehensive survey of the sources of the lexicon growth and the changes it has undergone;

-an introduction to the theory and practice of compiling dictionaries.

Approaches to the Study of Language

synchronic (Gr. syn — ‘together, with’, chronos — ‘time’) or descriptive

diachronic (Gr. dia — ‘through’, chronos — ‘time) or historical

to beg – a beggar

a beggar > to beg
2. Words of native origin and their distinctive features.

the native stock of words (25-30%) – words known from the earliest available manuscripts of the Old English period; they were brought to the British Isles from the continent in the 5th century AD by the Germanic tribes of the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.