Key concepts in Semantics Flashcards
What does the concept of Polysemy entail?
A case of Polysemy is when a word has two or more related meanings: Ex.The LEG of an animal the leg of a table.
What does the concept of Homophony entail?
A case of Homophony occurs when you have a words that sounds the same but have meanings that are not related. Example: Sage (Wise man) vs. Sage (the spice)
What does the concept of Paraphrases entail?
A paraphrase is a sentence that have the same truth conditions as the sentence it paraphrases. Ex. a. Some students fell asleep. B. Not all students stayed awake.
What does the concept of Contradiction entail?
A contradiction occurs when two sentences or even two words have opposite truth conditions. Ex. a. All people who are alive are not dead. b. All people who are alive are dead.
Explain what a Synthetic statement is?
In one interpretation it means that the truth conditions of a given sentence are dependent upon contingent external observations. Ex. A. All swans are white. All Danish people are white.
Define ‘Minimal Projection’
MInimal projection is the smallest meaningful verbal/non-verbal part of a higher order VP ( Verbal Phrase ) / or other phrases. Example: He came to visit her. ‘Came’ is the minimal projection of the comple Verbal Phrase.
Define ‘maximal projection’
Maximal projection is the largest meaningful phrase in a given sentence. Example: He came to see her. Came to see her will be the maximal projection of the sentence.
Define ‘non-count nouns’
Non-count nouns are incompatible with number addition and plural inflection. Example: He ordered the furniture.
Define the term ‘Finite’
Only verbal forms can be finite - finite denotes the presence of an inflected verb form of a verb. A verb form is finite when person and or number inflection is added to the infinite form of a given verb. example: To kill ( Infinite ) Kills/killed
Define the term ‘ Speech point’
It refers to when the utterance was/is/are going to be made/
Define the term ‘Reference point’
A point in time from which the event is seen.
Define the term ‘event point’
The point in time when the event takes place.
What is the ‘existential presupposition’ ?
If you are using the present perfect in a VP then you are neccessarily asserting that the subject is still alive/existing. *Mozart has never performed in Copenhagen.
