Semantics Flashcards
What is the definition of semantics?
The study of linguistic meaning (potential) of words, phrases or clauses.
Explain what lexical semantics and lexemes are.
Lexical semantics -> study of word meaning
Lexemes -> basic units (words in abstract sense), captures the conceptual core shared by all word-forms that belong to a paradigm (lexeme -> walk (v) -> shared conceptual core „figure walking“
What is synonymy?
Synonymous lexemes can be used to refer to the same thing, while being two different words (couch & sofa)
What is antonymy?
The semantic relationship between words that have opposite meanings.
What is gradable antonymy?
Hot/cold, wet/dry -> conceptual continuum
What is complementary antonymy?
Either-or-relationship (allowed-prohibited, even-odd)
What is relational antonymy?
Opposites that are part of a common scene, same Situation from different perspective ( tenant-landlord, buyer-seller, come-go)
What is relational antonymy?
opposites that are part of a common scene, same situation from different perspective (tenant-landlord, buyer-seller)
What is directional antonymy?
Describes opposite directions of movement (come-go, rise-fall)
What is hyponymy?
A word with more specific meaning than another more general word of which it is an example. For example „potato“ is a hyponym of „vegetable“
What is meronymy?
-part-whole concept
-> for example „finger“ is a meronym of the holonym „hand“
What is lexical ambiguity and what forms of ambiguity are there?
Polysemy:
-> the ability of a word to possess more than one ,eaning (bright > „shining“ and „intelligent“ or „can“ > permission, ability, possibility, request)
Homonymy:
-> same form but with different, unrelated meanings > two + lexemes.
-> often no recognizable link between the meaning. ( pot -> vessel or cannabis)
