Semantics Flashcards
Semantics
The convential meaning of language, as well as changes in meaning.
For language to serve a communicative function, every linguistic unit must have an agreed upon meaning within a speech community (a geographically or socially defined group of people who share a common language variety).
The relation of meaning and sign
Knowing a language means knowing that a certain sign is connected to a particular meaning.
The connection between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary, except for sound symbolism and some onomatopoea.
Sign/signifier
A sequence of phonemes (sounds) and graphemes (letters).
Signified: the thing that is described by the sign.
Semantic Domain
AKA Semantic field.
When lexemes can be grouped with others that have interrelated meanings.
By organising words and phrases into domains it is possible to understand the topic/focus of a discourse.
Semantic over-generalisation
When people (often children) make inferences that etend the meaning of a word beyond its accepted use. This occurs because children percieve similarities in meaning within the categories of people, objects, and actions.
E.g. ‘dinner’ for lunch, breakfast, and dinner.
Semantic undergeneralisation: words are given a narrower meaning than is typical. E.g. ‘dog’ for golden retrievers only. The frequency of semantic over and under generalisation diminishes as children aquire more information about the semantic boundaries of each word in their vocabulary.
Inference
Process of deduction
To effectively communicate, language users must be able to draw on their existing knowledge to fill in the gaps between what is/can be explicitly said and what is meant.
Etymology
The study of the origins of words and their historic development of form and meaning.
It allows us to draw conclusions about prevalant attitudes, beliefs, customs, and behaviour of people in certain times and places.
Semantic Change
Broadening
When a lexeme widens it’s meaning, by retaining its old meaning, while taking on other uses.
E.g. mouse (animal), and computer mouse.
Semantic Change
Narrowing
When the meaning of a lexeme becomes limited.
E.g. man (any human), became man (male human)
Semantic Change
Shift
When a lexeme takes on a new meaning and loses its original meaning.
E.g. slag (the refuse of smelting) became slag (a promiscuous woman)
Semantic Change
Elevation
When a lexeme takes on a more positive meaning than it once had - by gaining positive connotations, or subsiding preexistent negative connotations.
E.g. silly (pitiful), to silly (playful).
Semantic Change
Deterioration
When a lexeme takes on a more negative meaning - negative meanings outweigh positive ones.
E.g. gaudy (festive), became gaudy (eclectic and distasteful)
Semantic Change
Denotation
A words literal meaning as defined in the dictionary.
Codification
The process of collecting and writing down generally accepted or standard rules of language use.
Makes it difficult to change a words denotation because it fixes the words objective so it becomes the norm.
Semantic Change
Connotation
The additional emotional associations or values that are attached to certain words over time.
Requires geographical, social and situational context.
