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Semantics: The Analysis of Meaning

Semantics: The Analysis of Meaning. Lexical Semantics (cf. p.274). Semantic properties: The components of meaning of a word. Semantic feature: A notational device for expressing the presence or absence of semantic properties by pluses and minuses. Example of componential analysis:

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Semantics: The Analysis of Meaning

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  1. Semantics: The Analysis of Meaning

  2. Lexical Semantics (cf. p.274) • Semantic properties: The components of meaning of a word. • Semantic feature: A notational device for expressing the presence or absence of semantic properties by pluses and minuses. • Example of componential analysis: baby is [+ young], [+ human], [– abstract].

  3. Identify the features (1) 1. (a) widow, mother, sister, aunt, maid (b) widower, father, brother, uncle, valet • The (a) and (b) words are • The (a) words are • The (b) words are [+ human] [+ female] [+ male] 2. (a) bachelor, paperboy, pope, chief (b) bull, rooster, drake, ram • The (a) and (b) words are • The (a) words are • The (b) words are [+ male] [+ human] [+ animal]

  4. Identify the features (2) 3. (a) table, stone, pencil, cup, house, ship (b) milk, alcohol, rice, soup, mud • The (a) words are • The (b) words are [+ count] [- count] 4. (a) pine, elm, sycamore (b) dandelion, aster, daisy • The (a) and (b) words are • The (a) words are • The (b) words are [+ plant] [+ tree] [+ flower]

  5. Semantic Relations among Words (p. 269) • Synonymy: words that have the same meanings, e.g. start & begin. • Antonymy: words that are opposites in meanings, e.g. hot & cold. Synonymy or Antonymy (p. 307) • Flourish – thrive • Intelligent – stupid • Casual – informal • Flog – whip • Drunk – sober • synonym • antonym • synonym • synonym • antonym

  6. Semantic Relations among Words • Polysemy: A word which has two or more related meanings, e.g. bright: ‘shining’ ; ‘intelligent’ • Homonymy: A word which has two or more entirely distinct meanings, e.g. club: ‘a social organization’ ; ‘a blunt weapon’. • Homophony: Different words pronounced the same but spelled differently, e.g. two and too. • Homography: Different words spelled the same but pronounced differently, e.g. minute and minute.

  7. Identifying homophones 1. [steə]  1. Stair, stare 2. [weist]  2. waste, waist 3. [si:liη]  3. sealing, ceiling 4. [kju:]  4. cue, queue 5. [sent]  5. sent, cent, scent

  8. Identifying homographs • Read • Wind • Live • Tear • Invalid • Bass

  9. Identifying Homonyms in Jokes 1. Time flies like an arrow Fruit flies like a banana 2. Policeman: Why have you parked your car here? Motorist: Because the sign says “Fine for Parking”. 3. Customer: Have you got half-inch nails? Ironmonger: Yes, sir. Customer: Then could you scratch my back. It’s very itchy

  10. More semantic relations among words • Hyponymy: Words whose meanings are specific instances of a more general word, e.g. isosceles and equilateral are hyponyms of the word triangle. • Metonymy: A word substituted for another word with which it is closely associated, e.g. diamond for a baseball field. • Retronymy: An expression that would once have been redundant, but which societal or technoligical changes have made nonredundant, e.g. silent movies movies  silent movies

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