Lexicology: The Science of Words and Their Origins

Linguistics

This document explores the field of lexicology, a branch of linguistics focused on the study of words. It delves into the etymology of the term, the different approaches to studying language (synchronic and diachronic), the various lexical units, and the origins and assimilation of borrowed words in the English language. Various types of loans, including Latin, French, and others, are examined, along with the processes of phonetic, grammatical, and semantic assimilation.

Lexicology Etymology Linguistics

23 Questions Medium Ages 16+ Mar 19, 2026

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About this Study Set

This study set covers Linguistics through 23 practice questions. This document explores the field of lexicology, a branch of linguistics focused on the study of words. It delves into the etymology of the term, the different approaches to studying language (synchronic and diachronic), the various lexical units, and the origins and assimilation of borrowed words in the English language. Various types of loans, including Latin, French, and others, are examined, along with the processes of phonetic, grammatical, and semantic assimilation. Every question includes the correct answer so you can learn as you go — pick any format above to get started.

Questions & Answers

Browse all 23 questions from the Lexicology: The Science of Words and Their Origins study set below. Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.

1 What is lexicology a branch of?

A Grammar
B Phonetics
C Linguistics
D Semantics

2 The Greek morpheme 'lexis' means:

A learning
B word, phrase
C science
D language

3 What does the Greek morpheme 'logos' denote?

A word
B phrase
C learning, a department of knowledge
D sound

4 The literal meaning of Lexicology is:

A the science of language
B the study of grammar
C the science of the word
D the study of sounds

5 Phonetics is concerned with the study of:

A grammatical structure
B outer sound form of the word
C vocabulary origin
D sentence patterns

6 Grammar is concerned with the:

A meaning of words
B sound of words
C grammatical structure of language
D origin of words

7 What is the basic task of Lexicology?

A studying phonetic structure
B describing grammatical relations
C study and systematic description of vocabulary
D analysis of sentence patterns

8 Lexicology is concerned with words, variable word-groups, phraseological units, and:

A phonemes
B intonation patterns
C morphemes
D grammatical rules

9 The synchronic approach in linguistics is concerned with:

A changes over time
B vocabulary at a given time
C word origins
D sound evolution

10 The diachronic approach in linguistics deals with:

A vocabulary at a specific time
B changes and development of vocabulary
C word structure
D sound patterns

11 Special Descriptive Lexicology deals with the vocabulary of a particular language at a certain:

A origin
B development
C time
D structure

12 Special Historical Lexicology deals with the evolution of vocabulary units over:

A space
B time
C sound
D grammar

13 Lexicology studies various lexical units, including morphemes, words, variable word groups, and:

A phonemes
B intonation
C phraseological units
D syntax

14 The word is considered the basic unit of language on which plane of linguistic analysis?

A Syntactic plane
B Phonetic plane
C Morphologic and syntactic plane
D Semantic plane

15 The English vocabulary is composed of native words and:

A obsolete words
B borrowed words
C technical terms
D slang words

16 Numerically, which stock of words is considerably larger in English vocabulary?

A Native stock
B Borrowed stock
C Technical stock
D Archaic stock

17 Native English words comprise only about what percentage of the total number of words?

A 10%
B 30%
C 50%
D 70%

18 Native words form the bulk of the most _____ words used in speech and writing.

A infrequent
B complex
C frequent
D archaic

19 Borrowed words are also known as:

A native words
B loan words or borrowings
C archaic words
D technical terms

20 What is the most effective way of borrowing words?

A Indirect borrowing
B Translation loans
C Direct borrowing
D Semantic loans

21 When analyzing borrowed words, what is the 'source of borrowing'?

A The language to which the word is ultimately traced
B The language from which the word was immediately borrowed
C The language of origin
D The language of the recipient

22 What is the 'origin of borrowing'?

A The language from which the word was immediately borrowed
B The language of the recipient
C The language to which the word may be ultimately traced
D The source language

23 Which of the following is NOT a way of classifying the borrowed stock of words?

A Borrowings proper
B Translation loans
C Semantic loans
D Grammatical loans

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