LEXICOLOGY

WHAT IS LEXICOLOGY ?

Lexicology is the study of lexis or stock of words in a language. We will also use the word vocabulary interchangeably with lexis. Take note that lexis and vocabulary are non-count nouns (although occasionally, you could talk about vocabularies, this would be unusual); if you need to refer to individual items, you should talk about lexical items or vocabulary items. You might also encounter the term lexicon, which (unfortunately) can be used in a couple of ways; firstly, it can be used as a more technical version of lexis; many people use it synonymously with dictionary. What must be remembered is that any dictionary can never be comprehensive in its listing of the lexis of a particular language. (You might also encounter the term lexicography which is the study of dictionaries.)

Dealing with lexicology, there are some technical termd we have to comprehend, such as :

1. Lexicon is the collection of words ( the interlized dictionary ) , that every speaker of the language has.

2. Lexeme is the fundamental units of the lexicon of a language.

3. Lexicography is the process of writing, editinv, or compiling a dictionary.

4. Lexicographer is the author or editor of a dictionary. 

THE BRANCHES OF LEXICOLOGY 

1. General lexicology

    Concerned with the general study of words and vocabulary irrespective of the specific features of any particular language.

2. Special lexicology

     Concerned with the study and description of vocabulary and vocabulary units of a givdn language. Special lexicology are devided into 2 :

A. Special descfiptive lexicology ( synchronic lexicology ) deals with the vocabulary and vocabulary units of a perticular language at certain time.

B. Special historical ( diachronic lexicology ) deals with the changes and the development of vocabulary in the course of time.