SEMANTICS - Introduction to Linguistics

Semantics

Study of meaning of morphemes, words, phrases, and sentences; it studies the meaning in language, and explains what words, phrases, and sentences mean.

Semantic Feature

These are basic meaning components used to describe and distinguish word meanings; “Man” is a male, a human, an adult, etc.

Semantic Restrictions

These explains which words can logically occur together based on their meanings; this is where the agreement (subject-verb, adjective-verb, etc) follows. For example, The idea developed and NOT The idea laughed; an idea cannot laugh. Another; The mare was pregnant and NOT the stallion was pregnant; a mare is a female horse and a stallion is a male horse.

Literal

Semantic Meaning Extension: The basic, original, and direct meaning of a word - no figurative or emotional coloring; what the word actually means in reality. Example: The wind blew. No figurative coloring, since a wind can actually blow something.

Metaphorical/Personification

Semantic Meaning Extension: A word or expression is used figuratively, based on similarity between two different things; without the usage of “like” or “as”. Example: He is a lion; lion means brave or strong.

Denotations/Detonative

Semantic Meaning Extension: The dictionary or referential meaning of a word; closely related to literal meaning. Example: a snake is a legless reptile, and a rose is a type of flower.

Connotations/Connotative

Semantic Meaning Extension: The emotional, cultural, or associative meaning attached to a word, and it reflects feelings or attitudes. Example, a snake can mean danger or betrayal.

Metonymy

Semantic Meaning Extension: An attribute or commonly associated feature is used to name or designate something. Example: “White House” = US Gov., I’m reading Shakespeare = his works.

Synecdoche

Semantic Meaning Extension: Figure of speech by which a more inclusive term is used for a less exclusive one, or vice versa; part for a whole. Example, wheels can refer to a car, sails for ships, and hands for workers.

Semantic Fields

A cluster of words that cover a particular semantic area; a set of words connected by a common theme. Example: the words Teacher, Student, Classroom are connected to the theme of Education, while words Rice, Bread, Meat are connected to the theme of Food.

Prototypicality/Prototype Theory

By Eleanor Rosch, some members of a category are more central than others. Instead of all members of a category being equal, we tend to think of a central or the prototype (typical example). Example: when we think of a bird, we think of doves, pigeons, chickens. When we think of a sport, we think of basketball or volleyball.

Collocation

Group of words that often go together or that are likely to occur together; habitual pairings, not random combinations. Example: pay attention, fast food, rise and shine.

Lexical Phrases

Group of words which forms a grammatical unit of some kind and which exhibits a degree of inflexibility; functions as single units with specific meanings. Example: On the other hand, As a matter of fact.

Invariable Lexical Phrases

These phrases are FIXED and cannot be changed without losing meaning; all words in the phrase must stay the same. Example: As a matter of fact = Actually, In other words = To clarify.

Variable Lexical Phrases

These phrases are SEMI-FIXED and allow SOME FLEXIBILITY. Some words can be modified, but the general meaning stays the same. Example: Take a deep breath can also be Take another deep breath, and it has the same meaning.

Discourse Communities

A group of people that share or has a broadly agreed set of common goals, mainly when it comes to communication and has specific lexis.