Basic Principles And Motivations Behind Lexical Changes In Present-day English

Languages are in the state of constant changes; English is not exceptional. Changes of every sort in the present-day English have taken place concomitantly in different aspects, namely in phonetics (phonemics), grammar (morphology and syntax) and vocabulary. Vocabulary, as the most active element and the mirror of the society and culture, changes most radically and constantly. This thesis attempts to explore basic principles and motivations behind lexical changes in present-day English by analyzing and expounding concrete changes since the 20th century in lexical field.The whole thesis is divided into five chapters. Chapter one and chapter two is a general introduction of the purpose and the significance of the investigation, what has been involved in this investigation, and some existing researches in the field. The third chapter illustrates four basic principles behind lexical changes in present-day English: (1) adaptation principle: lexical changes are closely based on and timely adapted to the developments of the modern society; (2) gradualistic principle: lexical changes are constant and gradual, and do not happen in a sudden flight; (3) limited novelty principle: most of the lexical changes are built on old forms or meanings of existing vocabulary, while totally creative new words are rare; (4) economy principle: lexical changes are governed by working mechanism that requires minimal efforts of their users in creating and using new words and expressions in communication. It makes full use of existing lexis resources and explores potential expressive force to meet people's needs of communication in their daily life.The fourth chapter mainly studies four basic motivations which cause the lexical changes, that is why lexical changes have been happening constantly in present-day English: (1) keeping-up-with-times motivation is a vital external factor which contributes to lexical changes; (2) linguistic internal mechanism is an essential force driving the evolution of language. Besides, a comprehensive utilization of word-formation to generate new words is the most fundamental and the most important means of ever-expanding stock of vocabulary in the present-day English; (3) many new words and new expression are informal and asyntatic, but they are widely used and well received by people today for its simplicity and utility, especially some professional person and youth, to facilitate their communication, and this is called popularity, which has been greatly stimulating and motivating the lexical changes in present-day English; (4) today, English plays an important role in international communication for an important and leading media in the field of academy /science and technology/culture in the world and it is one of five working languages in the United Nations. Globalization drives English to actively absorb foreign vocabularies of unique ethnic features and greatly enhance the performance of modern English force to meet the growing needs of international intercourses. So globalization provides rich resources for lexical changes. In the last chapter of this thesis, a complete summary is given and the author looks forward to the future of English developments.It's hoped that the thesis has theoretical function in actual use of present-day English, thus making English learners, especially beginners better understand basic principles and important motivations that govern and drive lexical changes in present-day English, and quite aware of how efficiently present-day English has been expanding its vocabulary. Owing to limit of academic resources and knowledge of the author of this thesis, what has been probed into is far from being systematic and thorough-going. But the fact that every day a great number of new words have been pouring into English, is becoming more and more remarkable and highly necessary for us to keep a watchful eye on.