The Study of Semantic Change and its Effect on Linguistic and Literary Comprehension of ESL Learners

Azka Khalid

doi:10.32350/jcct.12.04

Abstract

Language is continuously changing. Words change their meaning over time and this process is known as semantic change. Change can occur both in the literal meaning and in the pragmatic use of words. In this research, semantic change is studied from a different perspective. Words that go through rapid semantic changes are the focus of this study. Users of English as a second language are also the focus of this study. The study observes whether these users are able to keep up with semantic change. It also gives us an idea regarding how much the users know about the multiple meanings of the same words. Another aspect of this study is to find out whether semantic change affects the comprehension of literature containing the words which went through semantic change. This research was conducted through a close-ended questionnaire designed by selecting fifteen words which changed their meaning over time. The respondents were fifty in number and were all females who had different educational backgrounds. The results were analyzed through pie charts. The results showed that the majority of ESL learners are able to keep up with semantic change, although a significant proportion is still struggling to understand the process. The results also showed that the learners of English as a second language have little knowledge of the previous meanings of words. If a word which has changed its meaning over time occurs in any literary work, ESL learners are not able to comprehend its meaning as it is intended to be understood. This can be considered as a negative attribute of semantic change. So, it was concluded that ESL learners are able to keep up with the change but most of them are unable to comprehend literature as it is intended to be understood.

Highlights

This chapter analyzes the process that is known as semantic change
This research, gives a new perspective to semantic change. It will show how ESL learners are affected by this change and if the interpretation of literature is affected by semantic change
Social media has speeded up the rate of change in meaning and it helps to create new meanings

Summary

Introduction

This chapter analyzes the process that is known as semantic change. Semantic change refers to the change in the meaning of a word over the course of time such as meat, girls, trolls and more are included in literature. These words affect the understanding of ESL learners. Haug (2008) pointed that in the act of communication interlocutors are seeking the most relevant interpretation. This creates a need for studying semantic change and its aftermath as well as how the users of English language deal with it. Recent works on semantic change have converged not on the results of the change but on pragmatic stimulating agents for change in the course of the speech. Grice (1989) shed light on the contributions of cognitive processes, such as analogical thinking, production of cues to interpret a message, and the perception or interpretation of meaning especially in grammaticalization

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