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SPHY103 EXAM 1-11 > Module 9 - Semantics > Flashcards

Module 9 - Semantics Flashcards

1
Q

Lexicon contains 4 things:

A

Phonological representation - [khæt]
Orthographic representation - ‘cat’
Grammatical (syntactic) information - noun
Semantic information - animal, pet, fur, meow

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2
Q

2 categories of semantics:

A

Lexical semantics - meaning at word level
Compositional Semantics - meaning at phrase level

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3
Q

How can we describe meaning / semantics? (2)

A

Reference (meaning based on real world objects)
Sense (meaning based on concept / mental image)

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4
Q

Reference

A

Meaning associated with a referent (a real object, concept, or individual)

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5
Q

Referent

A

The object, concept or individual
That linguistic form refers to

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6
Q

Referring expressions

A

Linguistic expressions (words) used to identify a referent
Eg.
Noun phrases (the little dog)
Proper Nouns (Sasha)
Pronouns in noun phrases (She)
Definite reference: My Dog
Indefinite reference: A Dog

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7
Q

Reference can have
multiple referring expressions for__

A

One referent
Eg sahsa, the dog

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8
Q

Reference can have
multiple referents for

A

One referring expression
Eg, eggs (can be easter eggs, cooked eggs, raw eggs)

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9
Q

Reference can be
Words without a real word referent. EG.

A

imagination

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10
Q

Sense

A

Concept
Abstract representations stored in mental lexicon
Suggests properties the entity may have

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11
Q

Link between meaning and word is___

A

arbitrary

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12
Q

Meaning - decomposition

A

Breaking down meaning to basic components

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13
Q

Meanings ___ over time

A

Meanings change over time
Eg tablet (stone) -> tablet (medicine) -> tablet (electronic device)

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14
Q

Lexeme

A

Represents meaning of a word in the mental lexicon

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15
Q

Semiotic Triangle comprises of (3)

A

Potential Referent (image of a dog)
Concept “Meaning” (Sense) (animal that barks)
Linguistic form (Dog)

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16
Q

What do ‘semantic features’ do? (2)

A

Helps us to define/ analyse / explain what a word means
Shows similarities or differences of words

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17
Q

Examples of semantic features (5)

A

Physical properties (colour, shape, living)
Group or category it belongs to (type)
Function (what is it used for)
Location (where is it, where is it kept)
Action (what does it do)

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18
Q

Symbols that analyse semantic features

A

+ / -

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19
Q

Semantic Features of Morphology and syntax nouns

A

Mass nouns = + weigh it
Count nouns = + count it

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20
Q

Semantic features of verbs indicate: (6)

A

+ cause (clarify)
+ motion ( skip run)
+ location (swimming = water)
+ event (eating)
+ state
+ negation

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21
Q

Semantic Categories

A

Grouping of interrelated items

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22
Q

2 types of shared semantic features

A

Core Features
Prototypical Features

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23
Q

Core Features
(Semantic Categories)

A

Semantic features that all items in the category share

Eg, snake, cat, cow = core feature (animal)

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24
Q

Prototypical Features
(Semantic Categories)

A

Semantic features that most items or typical items share

Eg. Snake, cat, cow = prototypical feature (four legs, fur)

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25
Semantic Feature that differentiates between category members
Distinctive features
26
Distinctive Features (Semantic Categories)
Semantic features that differentiate between members of the category Eg. Snake, cat, cow = distinctive features (scales, meow, dairy animal)
27
Semantic Relations
Meaning relationships (Sense Relations)
28
5 types of semantic relations:
Semantic Association Synonymy Antonomy Hyponomy Meronymy
29
1 Semantic Association (4) (4 Types of Semantic Relations)
Concepts that commonly occur together Can be members of the same category Or can share semantic features or not What is the first word you think of when I say... Knife -> Fork Cat -> Dog
30
2 Synonymy (4) (4 Types of Semantic Relations)
Synonyms Different word form Same / similar meaning Shared semantic features
31
3 Antonomy (4 Types of Semantic Relations)
Opposition meanings Defined by what they are not Eg big and small
32
5 types of Antonomy: (4 Types of Semantic Relations)
Gradable Antonyms Complementary Antonyms Relational Antonyms Directional Antonyms Auto Antonyms
33
Gradable Antonyms (5 types of Antonymy <- 4 types of Semantic Relations)
Marks extreme ends of the scale (big / small) Gradable (big -> med -> small)
34
Complementary Antonyms (5 types of Antonymy <- 4 types of Semantic Relations)
Absent / present Absolute opposition Non-gradable Eg dead / alive
35
Relational Antonyms (5 types of Antonymy <- 4 types of Semantic Relations)
Converse or reciprocal relationships Eg employee/employer Teacher / student
36
Directional Antonyms (5 types of Antonymy <- 4 types of Semantic Relations)
Represent opposite directions to a reference point Eg. Up / down, over/under, open/close
37
Auto Antonyms (5 types of Antonymy <- 4 types of Semantic Relations)
Something that is its own antonym Eg, consult (to ask for information, or to offer advice) Dust (to wipe away dust, or to add sugar to a cake)
38
4 Hyponymy (4 Types of Semantic Relations)
Different word form One term is a more specific part of the other term Hierarchical or class inclusion Eg insect - fly Animal - dog
39
5 Meronymy
Different word form Part - whole relationhip Eg nose - face, wheel - car, wall - house, wing-bird
40
Lexico - semantic relations
Word form + meaning relationships
41
4 types of lexical - Semantic Relations
Homonyms Homophones Homographs Polysemy
42
Homonyms (4 types of Lexical - Semantic Relations)
Same spelling and sound Different meanings Eg tablet (electronic device/ medication) Bat (animal / sport)
43
2) Homophones (4 types of Lexical - Semantic Relations)
Same sound (pronunciation) Different spelling Different meaning Eg (tale / tail), (flower / flour)
44
3) Homographs (4 types of Lexical - Semantic Relations)
Same spelling Different sound Different meaning Eg (Lead = /li:d/ to lead, leader /led/ pencil)
45
Polysemy (4 types of Lexical - Semantic Relations)
Same word form (spelling & sound) Different related meaning Eg wood (building material / forest) Chicken (live animal / meat)
46
Compositional semantics
Meaning at phrase or syntax level Sentence meaning is greater than the sum of words There is additional meaning depending on syntax
47
Propositional Meaning
Factual situation of the sentence Describe, doer, action and receiver
48
Different syntactic structures can have the same propositional meaning. Example
The person feeds the dog. The dog is being fed by the person. It is the dog that the person feeds.
49
NP arguments
The role of a noun phrase related to the verb. Described using thematic/semantic roles
50
Number of arguments for an Intransitive Verb: Harry ran.
1 argument Harry (Agent)
51
Number of argument for Transitive Verb She threw the ball
2 arguments She (Agent) The Ball (Theme)
52
Ditransitive Verb Bruce emailed Sue the good news
3 arguments Bruce (Agent) Sue (Patient) The good news (theme)
53
Thematic Roles Part A (4)
Agent Patient Theme Instrument
54
Agent (Thematic Roles)
the doer of action
55
Patient (Thematic Roles)
receives action (can be a thing)
56
Theme (Thematic Roles)
item being moved from one place to another
57
Instrument (Thematic Roles)
inanimate object used to achieve action
58
Thematic Roles Part B (5)
Experiencer Beneficiary Source Goal Location
59
Experiencer (Thematic Roles)
entity that receives emotional or sensory input
60
Beneficiary (Thematic Roles)
entity who benefits from the action occurring
61
Source (Thematic Roles)
starting point for the action
62
Goal (Thematic Roles)
end point of the action
63
Location (Thematic Roles)
where action happens
64
Reversibility
Sentences where agent and patient can be reversed. Used to test semantics of syntax Eg. Cat chases dog / Dog chases Cat Sentences where it is not reversible Is Cat chases ball / Ball chases cat **
65
Truth Value
Is a sentence possible?
66
Tautology / Analytic
Sentences that are always true Eg. Circles are round
67
Contradictions
Sentences that are never true Eg. Bachelors have wives
68
Where do contradictions occur?
Between sentences Eg. My favourite food is chocolate. My favourite food is not chocolate. Within sentences Eg. All bachelors are married
69
Anomaly (sentence does not make sense) occurs due to
* Semantic feature violations Eg. The man used his hands to kick the ball * Nonsense words being used Ding dang dong
70
Anomalous
Sentence is uninterpretable
71
Semantic ambiguity
Misunderstanding of sentence due to word/phrase having more than one meaning Eg. She ducked when the bat flew over her head (bag = animal / cricket bat)
72
Metaphor
Phrases that cannot be taken literally (literal meaning = anomaly) Expression that refer to one thing to explain another thing Eg. Time is money, you're a peach, love is a battlefield
73
Idiom
A phrase that cannot be taken literally Meaning cannot be interpreted by individual meaning of the words Frozen word position Set of words = 1 meaning Eg . Take the bull by the horns, ahead of the curve, eat my hat

SPHY103 EXAM 1-11 (13 decks)

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