Diachronic Meaning and Cultural Literacy in ESP: Insights from English Place-Name Morphology
Diachronic Meaning and Cultural Literacy in ESP: Insights from English Place-Name Morphology

Summary/Abstract: Meaning in language is the sum total of different components whose meanings interact on a certain linguistic level. A diachronic reading of the constitutive morphemes of a word offers a discrete dimension of analysis and can enhance cultural literacy in an ESP context. This study aims at demonstrating the importance of paying due attention to the linguistic, cultural, and historical elements in place names. A morphological analysis of a sample of place names is conducted from a diachronic perspective. The findings reveal historical and cultural nuances whose incorporation in ESP classes is pedagogically sound and convenient.

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