Chapter: lexicology and its object subject matter of Lexicology

IV. Homonyms
1. The definition of homonyms
Homonyms are words which are different in meaning but identical in sound or spelling, or both in sound and spelling. Homonyms can appear in the language not only as the result of the split of polysemy, but also as the result of levelling of grammar inflexions, when different parts of speech become identical in their outer aspect, For example. «care» from «care» and «care» from «carian». They can be also formed by means of conversion, For example. «to slim» from «slim», «to water» from «water». They can be formed with the help of the same suffix from the same stem, For example. «reader»/ a person who reads and a book for reading/.
Homonyms can also appear in the language accidentally, when two words coincide in their development, For example, two native words can coincide in their outer aspects: «to bear» from «beran»/to carry/ and «bear» from «bera»/an animal/. A native word and a borrowing can coincide in their outer aspects, For example. «fair» from Latin «feria» and «fair» from native «fager» /blond/. Two borrowings can coincide For example. «base» from the French «base» /Latin basis/ and «base» /low/ from the Latin “bas” /Italian «basso»l.
Homonyms can develop through shortening of different words, For example. «cab» from «cabriolet», «cabbage», «cabin».
In Modern English homonyms are widely spread. Homonymic relation can be found not only in words but also: 1) between morphemes, For example. It's raining. Flattering won't help. Fill your glasses. All is well that ends well; 2) between words and morphemes, For example. He couldn't get over the shock. The watch is shockproof; 3) between words and word-combinations, For example. Don't run away. The runaway was caught; 4) between words and sentences. For example. I don't care. He took and I don't care attitude.
Homonyms differ in their wordformational activity. For example "affect”-has 8 derivatives affective,affected,affectedly, affectation, affection, affectional, affectionally) whereas, «affect 2 ” has 3, (affectation, affecting, affected)
The interdependence and interrelations of different peculiarities of homonymic pairs demand further investigation.