Olena Gordiyenko - Background

  • Olena Gordiyenko, Dr. Sc. (Germanic Languages)

  • Associate Professor of Foreign Languages

  • Visiting Scholar, Department of Linguistics and Department of German & Slavic Studies

Semantics

Introduction

  • Definition:

    • Semantics is a major branch of linguistics devoted to the study of meaning in language.

  • Relation to Other Fields:

    • The term is also used in philosophy and logic, including areas like philosophical semantics, formal semantics (often termed as ‘logical’ or ‘pure semantics’), and formal logic or mathematics. However, in linguistics, the focus is on the semantic properties of natural languages as opposed to logical languages.

    • Reference: A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics. Ed. by David Crystal. Blackwell. 2008. P. 428-429.

Subareas of Linguistics

  • Phonetics: Study of speech sounds.

  • Phonology: Study of patterns and systems of speech sounds.

  • Morphology: Study of word structure or form.

  • Syntax: Study of sentence structures.

  • Semantics: Study of word meanings and relations.

  • Pragmatics: Study of language in context.

Etymology of Semantics

  • Origin:

    • From French "sémantique" (1883), derived from Greek "sēmasia" meaning 'signification' or 'meaning'.

  • It replaced the earlier term "semasiology" (1847), which also derived from the German "Semasiologie" (1829).

Semantic Meaning vs Speaker’s Meaning

Examples

  • Example 1:

    • A: "Can I take it?"

    • B: "Do you want some coffee?"

    • Response: "Yes, you can." and "I am OK."

Definitions

  • Semantic Meaning:

    • Refers to the literal meaning of a word, phrase, or sentence (lexicon+grammar). Semantics is derived according to the Principle of Compositionality, which states that the semantic meaning of any unit of language is determined by the meanings of its parts and their structure.

  • Principle of Compositionality:

    • The semantic meaning of any language unit is derived from the combination of its parts along with how they are organized structurally.

    • Reference: An Introduction to Language and Linguistics. Ed. by Ralph Fasold and Jeff Connor-Linton. Cambridge University Press. 2006. P. 137-166.

  • Speaker’s Meaning:

    • The intended message by a language user based on context. This derives from the interaction between semantic meaning and the context in which it is used.

    • Reference: An Introduction to Language and Linguistics. Ed. by Ralph Fasold and Jeff Connor-Linton. Cambridge University Press. 2006. P. 137-166.

Semantic Analysis

Analysis of Sentences

  • Example A:

    • "They like you." vs. "They are like you."

    • "They liked you."

  • Example B:

    • "Mary did not read it, did she?" vs. "Mary read it, didn’t she?"

Key Concepts in Semantics

  • Seme (n.):

    • A term referring to minimal distinctive semantic features within a specific semantic field (e.g., 'having a handle' for cups vs. glasses).

  • Sememe (n.):

    • Refers to a minimal unit of meaning. It may be equated with the meaning of a morpheme or a semantic component.

  • Sememics:

    • Deals with semantic relationships between lexical items as well as how language relates to the external world.

  • Semotactics:

    • Involves the study of the sequential arrangement of sememes.

    • Reference: A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics. Ed. by David Crystal. Blackwell. 2008. P. 430.

Semantic Triangle

  • Definition:

    • A practical model which suggests that meaning arises from a threefold relationship between linguistic forms, concepts, and referents.

  • Origin:

    • Proposed by C.K. Ogden and I.A. Richards in the 1920s in their work "The Meaning of Meaning".

Diversity of Meaning

  • Denotation:

    • The dictionary meaning, or the literal definition of a word.

  • Connotation:

    • The additional or associated meanings of a word beyond its strict definition.

  • Exercise 1:

    • Task: List synonyms for words and discuss their connotations.

    • Example words:

    • A) bad

    • B) good

    • C) frugal

    • D) thin

    • E) do

    • F) make

Semantic Change

  • Reference:

    • English Words: History and Structure. Ed. by Robert P. Stockwell and Donna Minkova. Cambridge University Press. 2001. P. 147-161.

Homophony and Related Concepts

Definitions

  • Homophony:

    • Refers to words that sound the same but have different meanings.

  • Homonymy:

    • Refers to identical forms of two or more words that have different meanings and origins.

  • Polysemy:

    • Refers to a situation where a single word has multiple related meanings.

Example Comparisons

  • Pairs to Analyze:

    • corn — corn

    • ear — ear

    • flight — flight

    • load — lode

    • meal — meal

    • mettle — metal

    • pupil — pupil

    • score — score

    • sea — see

    • sole — soul

    • trip — trip

    • waist — waste

Exercise Preparation

Exercise 2

  • Task: Compare pairs of words and determine whether they exemplify homonymy or polysemy. Provide arguments in support of your answers.

    • Examples:

    • A) fine - fine

    • B) bank - bank

    • C) monitor - monitor

    • D) tattoo - tattoo

    • E) school - school

    • F) leech - leech

Exercise 3

  • Task: Fill columns with synonyms derived from English and then from French or Latin origins. Analyze relevant connotations.

Column A (English)

  • feed

  • people

  • aid/assist

  • labor

  • middle

  • altitude

Column B (French/Latin)

  • conceal

  • begin

  • mistake

  • vision

Conclusion

  • Cartoon Reference: "Who ordered the apple" by Marco de Angelis

Appreciation

  • Thank You!

  • Acknowledgment for participation and engagement in the discussion topics presented.