Classification and peculiarities of semantic changes

Aleshkevich Sergey Sergeevich

A new name is required to designate a new object or idea, three options are possible: to form a new word from existing elements; borrow a term from a foreign language or other source; finally, change the meaning of the old word. Thus, the need to find a new name is an extremely important reason for semantic changes. The speed of scientific and technological progress in the world makes ever higher demands on linguistic resources, the possibility of metaphor and other types of semantic changes are used on a scale. Of all the linguistic techniques available, changing of meaning is the simplest, most discreet, and perhaps the most elegant way to keep pace with the progress of civilization.

Keywords:range of meaning, specialisation, pejorative development, meliorative development, linguistic resources, associations theory, similarity, naming, differentiation of synonyms, semantic changes, semantic law.