The Semantic Changes Of Chinese Legal Words

The focus of this paper is on the semantic changes of Chinese legalwords, with special reference to the data drawn from historical texts andthe semantic theory of Stephen Ullmann. It exemplifies the types andcauses of semantic changes of Chinese legal words with the aim toinvestigate the main features of semantic Chinese legal words, as well asthe significance for the legislation and law revision. It argues that amongfive major types of semantic changes of Chinese legal words, whichinclude restriction of meaning, extension of meaning, metaphoricalchange of meaning, metonymical change of meaning, and shift ofmeaning, the restriction of meaning is the most prevailing one. As forthe causes of semantic change, the author has illustrated that historicalcauses and foreign influences account for most semantic changes ofChinese legal words. It considers that the main features of Chinese legalwords have imposed a dominant influence on the tendency of semantic changes. The process of evolution of Chinese legal system decided thedominant role played by historical causes and foreign influence insemantic change of Chinese legal words. By analyzing the main featuresof semantic change, three major approaches of word-building in Chineselegal language are concluded—adopting traditional words, redefiningtraditional words, and creating new words, which have provided aneffective reference to the revision of law and legislation. The semanticchange of Chinese legal words reflects the evolution of Chinese legalsystem; through it people can gain intensive understanding when theycarry on relative research on Chinese legal culture. Through a systematicstudy of the types and causes of semantic change of Chinese legal words,and some misconceptions on the origin of some modern Chinese legalwords can be clarified. Moreover, through the research on types andcauses of semantic change of Chinese legal words, the forming approachof most modern Chinese legal words can be concluded, which willprovide some reference to the legislation or revision of the laws orregulations where the requirement for new names for new concepts is prevalent.