Module 6

Question 1

Referent

Answer 1

The entity identified by the use of a referring expression such as a noun or noun phrase

Question 2

Extension

Answer 2

Extension refers to the set of all potential referents for a referring expression.

Question 3

Prototype

Answer 3

A typical member of the extension of a referring expression is a prototype of that expression.

Question 4

Stereotype

Answer 4

A list of characteristics describing a prototype is said to be a stereotype.

Question 5

Coreference

Answer 5

Two linguistic expressions that refer to the same real-world entity are said to be coreferential

Question 6

Anaphora

Answer 6

A linguistic expression that refers to another linguistic expression

Question 7

Deixis

Answer 7

deictic expression has one meaning but can refer to different entities depending on
the speaker and his or her spatial and temporal orientation.

Question 8

Semantics

Answer 8

the study of meaning in language

Question 9

referent

Answer 9

the thing referred to (which varies from occasion to occasion)

Question 10

verb refer

Answer 10

having something particular in mind when saying a word (the definition that lives in the dictionary)

Question 11

speaker-reference

Answer 11

what the speaker is referring to by using some linguistic expression

Question 12

Linguistic-reference

Answer 12

reference that is a systematic function of the language itself, rather than of the speaker and context.

Question 13

The Principle of Compositionality

Answer 13

The semantic meaning of any unit of language is determined by the semantic
meanings of its parts along with the way they are put together

Question 14

Compositional semantics (or formal semantics)

Answer 14

how the Principle of Compositionality applies, formal semanticists study the variety of grammatical patterns which occur in individual languages and across the languages of the world

Question 15

lexical semantics

Answer 15

the study of the meanings of words, and the relations among words‟ meanings

Question 16

Denotative meaning

Answer 16

The logical meaning, which indicates the essential qualities of a concept which distinguish it
from other concepts

Question 17

Connotative Meaning

Answer 17

The additional or associated meaning, which is attached to the denotative, conceptual
meaning. It consists of associations made with a concept whenever that concept is referred to.

Question 18

Social Meaning

Answer 18

the meaning that a word possesses by virtue of its use in particular social situations and
circumstances

Question 19

Thematic meaning

Answer 19

the manner in which a message is organized for emphasis.

Question 20

The Theory of Naming

Answer 20

This theory, explained in Plato‟s dialogue Cratylus maintains that language is a communication system which works with two elements; the signifier, and the signified.

Question 21

The Behavioristic Theory of Meaning

Answer 21

Meaning in terms of the context in which language is used. These two maintained that the description of a language is not complete without some reference to the context of situation in which the language operated.

Question 22

Benefactive

Answer 22

The noun or noun phrase that refers to the person or animal who benefits, or is meant to benefit, from
the action of the verb.

Question 23

synonymy

Answer 23

Two or more forms with very closely related meanings, which are often, but not always,
intersubstitutable in sentences

Question 24

Antonymy

Answer 24

Two forms with opposite meanings are called antonyms

Question 25

Gradable

Answer 25

Antonyms that can be used in comparative constructs. The negative of one member does not necessarily imply the other

Question 26

Non-Gradable (complementary pairs)

Answer 26

They are not normally used in comparative constructions and the negative of one member does imply the other

Question 27

Hyponymy

Answer 27

When the meaning of one form is included in the meaning of another, the relationship is called
hyponymy

Question 28

Prototype

Answer 28

It explains the meaning of certain words like bird not in terms of component feature (e.g. „has wings‟) but in terms of resemblance to the clearest examplar

Question 29

Homophony

Answer 29

When two or more differently written forms have the same pronunciation but different meaning; e.g.
sea-see

Question 30

Homography

Answer 30

When two or more forms are the same only in writing but different in pronunciation and meaning theyare described as homographs such as lead ([lid]) and lead ([led]).

Question 31

Homonymy

Answer 31

It is when one form (written or spoken) has two or more unrelated meanings, but have the same
pronunciation and spelling; e.g. bank (of a river) and bank (financial institution). They have quite different meanings but accidently have the same form.

Question 32

Polysemy

Answer 32

It can be defined as one form (written or spoken) having multiple meanings which are all related by
extension

Question 33

Metonymy

Answer 33

: This relationship is essentially based on a close connection in everyday experience. It may be
container-content relation (can-juice); a whole-part relation (car-wheels); or a representative-symbol relation (king-crown). Sometimes making sense of many expressions depends on context, background knowledge and inference.

Question 34

Collocation

Answer 34

Those words which tend to occur with other words. e.g. hammer collocates with nail; wife with husband
and knife with fork