Typological overview of the English vocabulary: the co-existence in the English vocabulary system of the two typologically divergent strata.
Vocabulary is the most susceptible to various innovations subsystem of language.
The peculiar interaction of typological, etymological and ethnic factors led in the long run to the emergence in the English vocabulary of two typologically diverging strata, whose relations might be described ascoexistence
Taking into account the typological aspect we can call the two strata analyticised (core words) and synthetic (periphery words) .
A quantitative historical analysis of the English core words shows that in the course of its history the English lexical system has undergone deep changes (both quantitative and qualitative nature).
The qualitative functional parameters of each etymological stratum in the core can be explained via specific character of the cross-ethnic contacts between the ethnic communities in each particular period . As compensatory means, to preserve the genetic adequacy, the language developed three typological trends (strategies): 1) the gradual growth of the functional load of the Anglo-Saxon lexemes (hence: their polyfunc-tionality, polysemy, etc.). This process was accompanied by a structural simplification. 2) The Germanic lexical legacy was considerably enriched with structurally and genetically similar Scandinavian borrowings. 3) Structural and functional "mimicry" of early French (Romance) borrowings acquiring more and more core features (like Germanic words).
The analyticised stratum includes all native (Germanic) words and early borrowings: mostly from the other Germanic languages, partially from Latin, a bit later — root-words from Romance languages. On the contrary, the synthetic stratum includes only borrowings from the Romance, Latin and Greek languages.
Let us compare the two strata.
Analyticised words
1. They have developed a mono- or disyllabic structure, i.e. they are now mostly root-words.
2. They are characterized by stability of accent in their paradigms:Cf: 'lazy — 'laziness — lazier 'busy — 'busier — 'busily, etc.
3. They display part-of-speech polyfunctionality, i.e. they do not belong to parts of speech as lexico-morphological classes. Cf.: a round table (adjective) another round (noun) come round (adverb) to round the corner at a high speed (verb) round the corner (prep).
4. They are less active in affixation; (of Germanic origin). Cf.: sharp — sharpen — sharpness — sharply hope — hopeful — hopefully—hopefulness — hopeless, etc. O.E. mod - modig — modiglic — modigian, modignes
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5. They are very active in the so-called self-explaining compounds.
mother-to-be heavyweight, housewife, ready-to-wear, up-to-the-minute.
Cf. О. E.freomaeg (free or noble kinsman), nydgefera (companion in need).
6. There is normally no transition from the analyticised stratum to the synthetic one.
7. They are very active in analytical lexical models.
8. They are usually polysemantic. Their meanings are syntactically determined (i.e. depend on the syntactic construction) as in have a book (pen, stamp, etc.) but: have cut (made, played, etc.)
but: have to go (play, wait, etc.)
but: have my hair cut, etc.
9. They are used in different registers (either informal or formal) They are especially typical of colloquial style ; put off; give in; take part; take away; jut out; mark off; slow down
Synthetic words
1. They remain polysyllabic because reduction had already lost its force by the time they were borrowed.( these words preserved the affixes)
2. They have several accented syllables with different force of stress.
Cf.: 'flexible — flexibility cons'pire — conspiracy cons'pirator — conspira'torial
3. They characteristically belong to different parts of speech
Cf.: different (adj.); difference (noun); differ (verb); differentiate (verb); recognize (verb); recognition (noun); recognizable (adj.).
4. Sets of related words were borrowed almost simultaneously.
in / im / il / ir are different variants of one and the same Latin prefix. The form of this prefix varies according to the rules of Latin grammar. Cf: irregular, immortal, inarticulate, illegal.
5. They form very few new compoundings, as a rule, they have been borrowed as ready-made compoundings. These compoundings have linking vowels to join the bound root-morphemes: psychotherapy, sociology, elec-trotechnology, telephone, television, monosyllabic.
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6. Polysyllabic words can acquire analytical properties through shortening:
ad — advertisement; mime— pantomime; lab — laboratory; memo, hi-fi, porno, comfy, etc.
7. They are not capable of entering analytical models as readily as analyticised words do
8. They are not used as form words; they do not develop broad meanings though can be polysemantic.
9. They are semantically and syntactically specified. That is why they are common as terms and belong to formal registers. They are often out of place in everyday informal speech. Postpone; capitulate; participate; deprive; protrude; distinguish; decelerate, etc.
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