Editing Lexicon (section)

== Diachronic mechanisms ==

Comparative historical linguistics studies the evolution of languages and takes a [[Historical linguistics|diachronic]] view of the lexicon. The evolution of lexicons in different languages occurs through a parallel mechanism. Over time historical forces work to shape the lexicon,<ref>{{cite book |last=Deutscher |first=Guy |author-link=Guy Deutscher (linguist) |title=The Unfolding of Language: An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind's Greatest Invention  |url=https://archive.org/details/unfoldingoflangu00deut |url-access=registration |date=May 19, 2005 |publisher=Metropolitan Books|isbn=9780805079074 }}</ref> making it simpler to acquire and often creating an illusion of great regularity in language.
* [[Assimilation (linguistics)|Phonological assimilation]], the modification of loanwords to fit a new language's sound structure more effectively. If, however, a loanword sounds too "foreign", inflection or derivation rules may not be able to transform it.
* [[Analogy]], where new words undergo inflection and derivation analogous to that of words with a similar sound structure.
* [[Stress (linguistics)|Emphasis]], the modification of words' stress or accent.
* [[Metaphor]], a form of semantic extension.