PARTS OF LANGUAGE

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 458.

Phonological, grammatical and lexical systems are parts of language. They are closely connected. This can be proved by the fact that as linguistic disciplines they study the same object but from different points of view.

The description of the phonological system is given by phonetics. Concrete lexical meanings of separate words are studied by lexicology. But the same words belong to different parts of speech, and thus are characterized by special grammar categories and forms.

Sometimes grammatical forms determine certain changes in the lexical meaning of words.

e. g. to go is a verb of motion but in its continuous form and followed by an infinitive it means 'intention to fulfill an action in the immediate future'.

Thus, the lexical meaning is grammatically conditioned here.

A case when a grammar form gives rise to a new lexical unit is called lexicalization.

e. g. The plural form of the word colour – colours has got the meaning of 'a banner'.

Historically grammar inflexions are derived from pronouns and prepositions. When words become grammar endings it is a case of grammaticalization.

The ties between lexicology and grammar are especially strong in the sphere of word-derivation. This part of linguistics lies on the borderline between lexicology and grammar and it is studied by both of them.