Lexical semantics/WordFormation

Question 1

What is semiotics?

Answer 1

-Something that underlies any discussion of linguistics, a theory of signs in particular theory of linguistic sign
-Any word is a linguistic sign
-Semiotics-science of signs
-crucial for general approach to lexical semantics, to word formation, to lexicology, morphology, syntax

Question 2

Charles Pierce theory

Answer 2

• American philosopher at beginning of 20th century/ or end of the 19th century, one of the most influential figure in this field who is still quoted nowadays
  -in his theory there are some basics of semiotics (science of signs)
  -he laid a foundation to semiotics
  -he proposed several classifications of sings in general

Question 3

Pierce’s three types of signs

Answer 3

Icons- in his views of signs are based on similarity (for example, photo of house is an icon because it is similar to a house itself; roadmap is an icon because it is similar to networks of roads )
Indexes- are signs which are not based on similarity but on contiguity, some kind of internal relations, ( example- fever is sign of a disease, some internal relations)
Symbols- signs which are based on convention, agreement, there is no similarity or internal relation, simply (traffic lights, red colour means stop is not a matter of similarity, it is matter of agreement, we agreed on some principles that red light means stop, green light means go)

Question 4

What are hypoicons

Answer 4

According to Pierce’s distinction, icons are divided into three hypoicons:
-1-image : direct representation of an object, image is very important in linguistics
2- diagram: represents structural analogy (teacher = consists of 2 morphemes – division into H and M is also reflected in the semantics of this word; action (teach) + er (agent);
-the fact that formally we can divide this word into 2 parts is diagrammatic relation – the formal structure is reflected in the semantic structure or vice versa
3- metaphor: based on motivation of one meaning by another meaning = e.g. fox – if we refer to the person then the behaviour of an animal motivates the meaning transferred to a human being (sly person)

Question 5

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer 5

• one of the most influential person in 20th century who established the theory of linguistic sign; he used the term semiology instead of semiotics
  -He believed that semiology is a broad science which encompasses linguistics ( in his view ling. is a part of general theory of signs)
  -in his semiology he developed the basic theory of linguistic sign- bilateral theory

Question 6

Saussures Bilateral theory

Answer 6

• means that a sign is concerned as a unity of formal meaning – 2 facets – form and meaning
  -he used the term acoustic image and concept

Question 7

Acoustic image (de saussure)

Answer 7

-abstract notion (e.g. word table has a lot of realizations because there is difference between Italian and Japanese speaker etc. – each of us says words differently, mother tongue is different)

Question 8

Concept(saussure)

Answer 8

-general idea, mental representation of sth
-we can identify the word ex. table although there are many types of tables which are different in material used, shape etc. because we have a concept in our mind based on the identification of common features of all possible tables

Question 9

Arbitrariness

Answer 9

is an idea that, there is no casual relation between the concept and acoustic image. Their relation is arbitrary. Existence of the same item e.x kniha in Slovak and kniga in Russian. Their use in controversial (based on general agreement in the speech community).

Question 10

Onomatopoeas

Answer 10

• -onomatopoeas are based on imitation of a sound by means of limited number of phonemes

Question 11

Conventionalization

Answer 11

each onomatopea undergoes conventionalization which means that sound is adjusted to the phonological system of a particular language
-MUST BE DISTINGUISHED FROM ARBITRARINESS which is based on the convention, agreement