SYSTEMIC RELATIONS IN THE LEXICON: SYNONYMY AND ANTONYMY

Synonymy [Russian tradition]

the approach categorizing synonyms into stylistic (spouse–wife–mum), ideographic (mistake–blunder–lapse–slip), and contextual (Shakespeare = Swan of Avon), utilizing key concepts like dominant, invariant, and componential analysis

Synonymy [Western tradition]

the approach focusing on loose synonymy and classifying differences by dialect (bonnet/hood), style (die/pass away/kick the bucket), and connotation (push/shove), noting that English is rich due to historic borrowing from French, Latin, and Old English

Key points of synonymy

1. Strict (absolute) synonymy does not exist as it is uneconomical for language, 2. Only loose synonymy exists where words have overlapping meaning, 3. Synonyms differ by dialect, style/formality, or connotation

antonymy

the systemic language relationship between words (lexical items) that belong to the same part of speech and possess contrasting, opposite meanings

Gradable Antonyms

pairs of words with opposite meanings that lie at the contrary ends of a continuous, adjustable scale, allowing comparison, modification by intensifiers, and featuring one unmarked term

Complementary Antonyms

pairs of words that divide a specific semantic domain into a strict, absolute either/or binary choice with no middle ground, where asserting one automatically denies the other (e.g., asleep/awake, dead/alive)

Converse Antonyms

pairs of words that express a mutual relationship, transaction, or physical orientation viewed from two opposite, inverted perspectives, where one term logically implies the other (e.g., buy/sell, parent/child)

Distribution across word classes [Antonymy]

the linguistic pattern where adjectives form the largest group of antonyms, while the incidence of antonym pairs in nouns, verbs, prepositions, and adverbs is highly restricted

Homophone [Омофоны]

words that share the exact same sound (pronunciation) but have different spellings and meanings (e.g., see / sea)

Homograph [Омографы]

words that share the exact same written representation (spelling) but have different sounds (pronunciation) and meanings (e.g., wind / wind)

Homonyms [Омонимы]

two or more words that share the exact same formal expression by sounding the same, being spelled the same, or both, but possess completely different, unrelated meanings

Hypernym [Гипероним]

a generic, broad word that represents a superordinate category or a class of objects, possessing a wider semantic scope but fewer specific defining features (semes)

Hyponym [Гипоним]

a specific, subordinate word whose meaning is included within a broader category, possessing all the semantic features of its hypernym plus its own unique, distinguishing features (differential semes)