Lecture Methods of Lexicological Research

Lecture 5. Methods of Lexicological Research
a) The diachronic approach;
b) The synchronic approach;
c) Statistical methods;
d) Stages of scientific research;
e) Contrastive analysis;
f) Statistical methods of analysis.
The process of scientific research consists of the following stages:
observation, classification, generalization and verification. Observation is the
collection of data. Classification is the orderly arrangement of these data.
Generalization is the formulation of a hypothesis, rule or law. Verification seeks
the proof for the generalization.
Various methods of lexicological research are used for classification,
generalization and verification, such as: contrastive analysis, statistical methods of
analysis, Immediate Constituents analysis, distributional analysis, transformational
analysis, componential analysis.
Diachronic approach.
The research methods used in Lexicology have always been closely connected with the general trends in Linguistics. The principles of comparative linguistics have played an important role in the development of a scientific approach to historical word study.
They have brought everything in order and classified information about the English vocabulary in their proper perspective.
The methods applied consisted in observation of speech, mostly written, collection and classification of data, hypotheses and systematic statements. Particular stress was put on the refinement of methods for collecting and classifying facts. The study of vocabulary became scientific.
The 19^th century language study has recognized variety and change in language. Comparative philology insisted on reconstruction of the fundamental forms and meanings which have not come down to us. It was realized that the only basis for correctness is the usage of the native speakers of each language. They destroyed the myth of a Golden Age when all the words had their primary “correct” meaning and when the language was in a state of perfection from which it has deteriorated. It became clear from intensive work on the great historical dictionaries that multiple meaning for words is normal, not an “exception”. Comparative studies show that, save for specific technical terms, there are no two words in two languages that cover precisely the same area.
The greatest contribution, as far as English is concerned, were the Oxford English Dictionary and Data on the English vocabulary in works by H.Sweet, O.Jesperson, H.Poutsma, and others. Most of them were published in the 20^th century but the main principles on which they were based were worked out in the 19^th century.
In the beginning of the 20^th century vocabulary study was still mainly concentrated on historical problems. In connection with the so-called word-and-thing method the study of words became a tool for the study of civilization.
A wide historical context was, in its turn, found indispensable in explaining vocabulary changes. In the process of studying some words or work, the linguists collected accurately chosen examples of usage, and arranged them according to the periods of language history (and for OE and ME according to dialects). These data were compared. As to conclusions about the meaning, they were drawn from the context and from what was known about the realia of the period.
Comparing words and morphemes with those from which they were derived it was possible to describe the processes at work in vocabulary development.