Analysis of Semantic Change from a Lexical Perspective

Abstract

Semantic change is a universal phenomenon in human language. This article analyzes the trends of semantic change and the possible reasons behind them from a lexical perspective. By illustrating the five different types of changes that happen on the lexicon, the study finds that factors like language contacts, cultural trends and social norms significantly impact semantic changes. Besides, people’s cognitive mode and their concept of collocations also contribute to the changes in the lexicon.