为了激发英语学习者对英语词语学习的兴趣，对英语词汇有一个较系统的、全面的、深刻的认识，本书系统地介绍了英语词汇学理论知识，主要包括英语词汇的来源、词的结构、词的构成方法、词的理据、词的语义分类、词与词之间的语义关系、词义的变化、词义与语境、英语习语、美国英语等。

本书以简练的语言、实用的例子系统地介绍了英语词汇学方面的知识，重点介绍了英语词汇的来源、词的结构、词的构成方法、词的理据、词的语义分类、词与词之间的语义关系、词义的变化、词义与语境、英语习语、美国英语等。

本书适合从事英语教学的教师、英语专业学生、非英语专业高级阶段学生等阅读和参考。

Chapter 1 InWoducfion

 1.1 Definition of lexicology

 1.2 Definition of a word

 1.3 Classification of English words

 1.4 Aims and significance of the English lexicology course

Chapter 2 Sources of English vocabulary

 2.1 Native words in modem English

 2.2 Borrowed words in modem English

2.2.1 Words from Latin

2.2.2 Words from Greek

2.2.3 Words from French

2.2.4 Words from Scandinavian

2.2.5 Words from Italian

2.2.6 Words from German

2.2.7 Words from Arabic

2.2.8 Words from Chinese

 2.3 Neologisms in modern English

　 2.3.1 Sources of neologisms

　 2.3.2 Formations of neologisms

Chapter 3 Morphological structures of English words

 3.1 Morpheme

 3.2 Classification of morphemes

3.2.1 Free morphemes and bound morphemes

3.2.2 Roots and affixes

3.2.3 Roots and stems

3.2.4 Morphs.morphemes，allomorphs

Appendix：some common roots

Chapter 4 Word-formation

 4.1 Derivation

Appendix：some common prefixes

Appendix：some common suffixes

 4.2 Compounding

4.2.1 Noun compounds

4.2.2 Adjective compounds

4.2.3 Verb compounds

4.2.4 Pronoun compounds

4.2.5 Adverb compounds

4.2.6 Preposition compounds

4.2.7 Conjunction compounds

 4.3 Conversion

　 4.3.1 Conversion from noun to verb

4.3.2 Conversion from verb to noun

4.3.3 Conversion from adjective to noun

 4.4 Blending

Appendix：some common blends

 4.5 Clipping

Appendix：some common clippings

 4.6 Acronymy

Appendix：some common acronyms and initialisms

 4.7 Back—formation

 4.8 By analogy

Chapter 5 Motivation

 5.1 Phonetic motivation

5.1.1 Primary onomatopoeia

5.1.2 Secondary onomatopoeia

 5.2 Semantic motivation

 5.3 Morphological motivation

 5.4 Motivation and cultural background

Chapter 6 Types of word meaning

　6.1 Grammatical meaning and lexical meaning

　6.2 Conceptual meaning and connotative meaning

　6.3 Social meaning

　6.4 Mfective meaning

　6.5 Collocative meaning

　6.6 Thematic meaning

　6.7 Local meaning

Chapter 7 Semantic relationship between words

　7.1 Polysemy

　7.2 Homonymy

　 7.2.1 Perfect homonyms

　 7.2.2 Homophones

　 7.2.3 Homographs

　 7.2.4 Creation of homonyms

　 Appendix：some common homonyms

　7.3 Synonymy

　 7.3.1 Differences between synonyms

 　7.3.2 Sources of synonyms

　 7.3.3 Synonymous patterns

　 Appendix：some common euphemisms

　7.4 Antonymy

7.4.1 Classification of antonyms

7.4.2 Different antonyms in different contexts

7.4.3 The use of antonyms

　7.5 Hyponymy

　7.6 Semantic field

Chapter 8 Changes in word meaning

 8.1 Causes of changes in word meaning

 8.2 Tendencies that lead to the changes in word meaning

8.2.1 Generalization

8.2.2 Specialization

8.2.3 Elevation

8.2.4 Degradation

8.2.5 Change of meaning resulting from figurative use of eords

8.2.6 The use of the abstract for the concrete or vice versa

8.2.7 Common words from proper names

Chapter 9 Meaning and context

 9.1 Types of context

9.I.1 Linguistic context

9.1.2 Extra—linguistic context

 9.2 Context and ambiguity

 9.3 Ambiguity and fuzziness

Chapter 10 English idioms

 10.1 Definition of idioms

 10.2 Characteristics of English idioms

10.2.1 Semantic unity

10.2.2 Structural stability

 10.3 Sources of English idioms

 10.4 Classification of English idioms

10.4.1 Idioms nominal in nature

10.4.2 Idioms adjectival in nature

10.4.3 Idioms verbal in nature

10.4.4 Idioms adverbial in nature

10.4.5 Sentence idioms

 10.5 Stylistic features of idioms

Appendix：some common Dmverbs

Chapter 11 American English

 11.1 Brief history of American English

 11.2 Characteristics of American English

11.2.1 Creativjty

11.2.2 Archaism

11.2.3 Heterogeneity

11.2.4 Uniformity

11.2.5 Popularity of slang

 11.3 Differences between British and American English

11.3.1 Differences in pronunciation

11.3.2 Differences in spelling

11.3.3 Differences in vocabulary

11.3.4 Differences in grammar

Key to exercises

Glossary of some linguistic terms

Reference books