PPT Notes, Test 4 - Semantics Flashcards
define semantics
- the study of meaning in language
- a science dealing with the relation between
referents (words, symbols)
and
referends (objects/concepts)
define lexical gap
when we have a concept, but no word for that thing
define objectivism
there is a reality out there that we can access, bypassing language, and language describes that world
define relativity
differences in language create differences in thought
example: german: key, masculine
spanish: key, feminine
define determinism
thought is determined by the categories available in language
define euphemism
giving a name to something that makes it better
example: office administrator for secretary, sanitation technician for garbage man
define dysphemism
giving a name to something that makes it worse
example: walkers for skin eaters, terrorist for freedom fighter
define oxymoron
an expression which contains an inherent contradiction
example: bittersweet, only choice
define tautology
an expression that is redundant
example: free gift, frozen ice, 5pm in the afternoon
define metaphor
figure of speech in which a word or expression normally used for one kind of object/action is extended to another
example: concept - argument is war
extension - “he ATTACKED every WEAK POINT in my ARGUMENT”
define simile
essentially a metaphor that uses LIKE or AS to explicitly make the connection
define analogy
process by which a form A is either changed or created in such a way that its relation to another form B is like that of other pairs of forms whose relationship is similar in meaning
define hyponyms
subordinate words of a category of hypernym
example: hypernym: dog
hyponyms: mutt, terrier, Dalmation, Labrodor
X is a kind of X
define meronyms
parts of a whole
example: dog
meronyms: tail, whiskers, paw, ears, snout
tail is part of a dog
define metonymy
a word that literally denotes one thing is used figuratively to refer to something related
examples: the Crown = the British Monarchy
Washington = the US government
plastic = credit card
bottle = alcoholic drink
the press = the news media
define synonym
words that mean the same thing BUT words that have the same denotational meaning can differ in connotation
examples: sofa/couch, cease/stop, cup/mug
dawg, dude, companion, associate, friend
“Wassup my associate” NO
regional variation: a user will typically only use one of the words in a group
define denotation
literal meaning, referent, the actual thing or concept in the real world
example: music/noise
define connotation
subjective meaning, affective, connected to things outside the literal meaning
example: music/noise
define homophone
words that SOUND the same, homoPHONE
different meanings
example: flower/flour, two/to/too, knight/night, hear/here
define homograph
words that are SPELLED the same, homoGRAPH
different meanings
example: saw (tool) / saw (past tense of see)
bank (where keep money) / bank (beside river)
word can be homophone NOT homograph
example: flower/flour, bee/be, sew/so
word can be homophone AND homograph
example: bank/bank
sink (a boat) / sink (in the kitchen)
crane (your neck) / crane (on a construction site)
define polysemy
a word that has multiple meanings
define antonymy
words that the mean opposite of other words
example: wide/narrow
early/late
sane/crazy
define gradable antonym
words that represent poles that have degrees between example: light/dark slim/chunky healthy/sick bad/good
define nongradable antonym
words that have exact, polar opposites, they are both absolutes example: dead/alive single/married on/off bad/good
define converseness in antonyms
words that imply a relationship with another word - semantically reciprocal
example: parent/child
wife/husband
teacher/student
BUT NOT male/female because the opposite is not implied in one word - you can have a male without a female, but not a husband without a wife
define deixis
rhymes with “likes this”
to make a reference clear with words that have a pointing or specifying function - “has a shifting referent”
3 types of deixis
PRONOUNS (I, you, us, our)
SPATIAL (this/that, here/there, coming/going)
TEMPORAL (adverbs of time: today, tomorrrow, now)
