ABSTRACT
This chapter examines lexical semantic change, the change of the meaning of languages’ lexical items through time. In semantic reconstruction, one can aim at a generally applicable method or be interested in a particular semantic field in a particular language or language family only. There are also a number of proposals on how to approach semantic reconstruction more generally beyond individual semantic fields. Changes in semantics may also be based on analogy, namely if words with similar or identical meanings undergo similar semantic changes. Andreas Blank says that semantic change may also be instantiated in order to reduce complexity and irregularity in the lexicon on behalf of the speaker in order to communicate successfully with minimal effort. Most languages are dialectally diverse, and this diversity can manifest itself on all levels of linguistic structure, including semantics.
