Definition of Semantics

1. Definition of Semantics “The study of the linguistic meaning of morphemes, words, phrases, and sentences is called semantics.” Fromkin, Victoria, Robert Rodman & Nina Hyams. 2003. An Introduction to Language. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, p. 173.

2. Meaning Semantics Words Lexical Semantics Phrases Phrasal Semantics Sentences Sentential Semantics Pragmatics Discourse Pragmatics (Context) Fromkin, Victoria, Robert Rodman & Nina Hyams. 2003. An Introduction to Language. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, p. 173.

3. Basis for Understanding Speech “Learning a language includes learning the agreed-upon meanings of certain strings of sounds and learning how to combine these meaningful units into larger units that also convey meaning.” “All speakers of a language share a basic vocabulary—the sounds and meanings of morphemes and words.” (My emphasis.) Fromkin, Victoria, Robert Rodman & Nina Hyams. 2003. An Introduction to Language. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, p. 173.

4. Mental Lexicon  Pronunciation  Meaning (including Semantic Properties) Relationship to other words  Grammatical category  How to use it in sentences.  Potential collocations and idioms  Spelling

5. Examples of Semantic Properties/Features  person, woman, doctor, boy, engineer, baby +human  doe, lady, sister, mare, her +female  girl, actress, woman, aunt, wife, widow +human, +female  child, baby, puppy, kitten +animate, +young

6. Speech Errors Intended Utterance Actual Utterance (Error) bridge of the nose bridge of the neck when my gums bled when my tongues bled he came too late he came too early

7. Speech Errors Mary was young Mary was early lady with the dachshund lady with the Volkswagen a horse of another color a horse of another race he has to pay her alimony he has to pay her rent

8. Chapter 5 Homework(pp. 222-223, #1) A. (a) and (b) are +male (a) are +human (b) are –human (animals) B. (a) are +count (countable) (b) are –count (non-count) C. (a) are +concrete (b) are –concrete (abstract)

9. Chapter 5 Homework(pp. 222-223, #1) D. (a) and (b) are –animate (plants) (a) are trees (b) are flowers E. (a) are written documents (b) are writing instruments F. (a) and (b) are +movement (a) are done with body/ no equipment (b) are require equipment

10. Chapter 5 Homework(pp. 222-223, #1) G. (a) and (b) are +speech (use language) (a) are ways to use speech (b) are manners of speech H. (a) and (b) are opposites (a) are complementary pairs (b) are gradable I. [(a) and (b) are +adjective] (a) are NP is not necessarily an N (b) are NP is an example of N

11. Relationships between Words(-nyms)  Different words (Heteronym)  Same? word (Polysemy)  Homonyms (Homophones)  Homographs  Heteronyms

12. Chapter 5, Homework(p. 224, # 2) a. bank b. kind c. sole d. drill / boring e. deed f. ruler g. can h. shop i. every + a j. a

13. Relationships between Words(Semantic)  Synonyms  Antonyms  Hyponyms  Metonyms  Retronyms

14. Types of Antonyms Gradable Pairs more of A is less of B big/small hot/cold Complementary Pairs A = not B; B = not A alive/dead awake/asleep (Relative scale small elephant/big mouse) Relational Pairs If X = Y’s A, then Y = X’s B teacher/student give/receive

15. Proper Names  Unique  Little meaning beyond referral  Definite  Don’t usually take ‘the’  Aren’t usually pluralized  Don’t usually take adjectives  In writing, usually CAPITALIZED Fromkin, Victoria, Robert Rodman & Nina Hyams. 2003. An Introduction to Language. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, pp. 185-187.

16. Chapter 5, Homework(p. 207, # 8) Hints a. bare b. lead c. praise d. byte e. sight f. pairs g. plain h. karat i. mane j. frees