THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH LEXICON 
AS THE INFLuENCE OF SOCIAL CHANGES 

A1bertus Suwardi1 

Abstract: This paper describes and explains the development 
of English in general and especially the English lexicon as the 
influence of social changes from time to time. We know that 
English can be divided into three periods; the periodfrom 450 
to 1100 is known as Old English,from 1100 to 1500, is known as 
Middle English, and the last, from 1500 up to now is known as 
Modern English. From the three periods it is found that English 
always develops and changes. The English of each period is 
different from the English of other periods. 

Key words: old English, middle English, modern English 
lexicon. 

INTRODUCTION 

This paper is intended to describe and explain the development 
of the English in general and specifically the English lexicon as the 
influence of the social and cultural changes from time to time. 
Discussing the lexicon development and changes we cannot separate 
it from the development and changes of the language in general. So 
before the discussion of the development and changes of English 

I Albertus Suwardi, M.Hum. <albertus261 O@yahoo.com> +628122964600 is 
a full time lecturer ofUniversitas Teknologi Yogyakarta 





















192 Celt, Volume 9, Number 2, December 2009: 182-192 

linguistic levels such as: phonology, morphology, syntax, semantic, 
and lexicon. Among those changes semantic and lexicon are the most 
common and easily seen. 

Lexicon change can be: the addition of new words, the lost of 
old words, and the change of the meaning of words. The addition of 
new words comprise: the new word formation and word borrowing. 
The lost of the old words can be permanent or may come into use in a 
certain period. Whereas the meaning change can be: broadening, 
weakening, ameliorative, pejorative lexical meaning. And all those 
happen because of the influence or the effect of social and cultural 
changes in the society. 

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