Semantic Changes
What type of semantic change is based on similarity?
Metaphor
What is the head word in the phrase “beautiful garden”?
Garden
“Mouse” meaning a computer device is an example of what?
Technological cause of semantic change
“Strong coffee” is an example of which type of combinability?
Lexical combinability
“Meat” went from meaning “food” to meaning “animal flesh”. Which process is this?
Specialization (narrowing)
Identify the degree of motivation in the phrase “black box” (in aviation).
Partially motivated
“Holiday” originally meant “holy day”. What type of change is this?
Generalization (widening)
Choose the correct type of word-combination: “brother and sister”.
Coordinative word-combination
Identify the type of semantic change: “Crown” meaning “the King/Queen”.
Metonymy (object → person)
What is the difference between free word-combinations and idioms?
Free combinations have predictable meaning; idioms have non-motivated, fixed meaning.