Lexicology is the study of a language’s lexicon or vocabulary, including variants and archaic forms. Lexicologists study word relationships, types, groups, and evolutions, often with a focus on semantics and linguistics. Lexicographers write dictionaries, while lexicologists work in academia and other fields. Aspiring lexicologists need a strong interest in language, foreign language skills, attention to detail, and patience.
Lexicology is the study of the lexicon, the library of words that make up a language. A lexicon may also be called a vocabulary; in both cases, the term is intended to encompass all words used in a language, including variants and archaic forms. People who work in the field of lexicology are known as lexicologists and are often found working in academia. Several colleges and universities offer opportunities to study lexicology, including the lexicology of foreign languages.
In lexicology several areas of interest are combined. People who study words are interested in the relationships between various words, the labeling of word types, the exploration of word groups and their relationships, and the evolutions in word and language use that occur in the time. A lexicologist can study regional differences in word usage and also look at the history of the words being studied, exploring their origins and seeing how their usage has deviated from their original meaning in situations where this is the case.
Linguistics features heavily in lexicology, and many researchers in this field are also interested in semantics, the examination of meaning. A lexicologist may choose to study the lexicon of any language and may work with a wide variety of materials, including original texts demonstrating historical word usage, dictionaries, and other references. Commonly, knowledge of multiple languages is required to delve into word usage and origins, especially since many modern languages freely borrow words from one another.
Specialists known as lexicographers work on texts such as dictionaries. These lexicology professionals write down words and their variants, research the roots and define the meanings, developing texts that provide resources for people interested in the meanings and origins of words. However, lexicologists are not necessarily involved in the production of dictionaries and their work can be applied in all manner of ways and from many perspectives.
People interested in a career in lexicology should plan to spend a lot of time in school, as many people in this field have doctoral degrees and have completed postgraduate work. It helps to have an interest in words and language and be grounded in one or more foreign languages before entering this field of study. An eye for detail and an interest in history is also recommended for aspiring lexicologists. This type of work requires precision and patience, combined with a passion for the language.
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