Semantics Flashcards

1
Q

Semantics

A

The study of linguistic meaning, encompassing the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences

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2
Q

Lexical Semantics

A

Deals with the meaning of individual words and other lexical expressions

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3
Q

Compositional Semantics

A

Deals with the meaning of phrases and how those meanings are assembled from their component parts

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4
Q

Lexical Ambiguity

A

Occurs when a word has more than one possible meaning. EX: fly (insect or action of flying)

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5
Q

Structural Ambiguity

A

Occurs when a sentence or phrase has 2 or more meanings bc of the different ways words can be combined. e.g “ Flying kites can be dangerous.”

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6
Q

Referential meaning

A

The literal use of a word, usually the dictionary meaning

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7
Q

Associative (emotive) meaning

A

Deals with the feelings or reactions associated with words that may be found among some individuals or groups.
e.g. skydiving = might associate with fear, excitement, experience with certain people, etc.

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8
Q

Semantic features

A

Similar to phonology, using +/- to describe basic elements of words such as +/- animate /-human /-female /-adult.
e.g. +animate for dog and -human for rock

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9
Q

Semantic (Thematic) Roles

A

The function or role a word plays in a sentence

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10
Q

Agent

A

the entity that PERFORMS the action
e.g. “John kicked the ball”
Agent - John

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11
Q

Theme (Patient)

A

The entity involved in or affected BY the action

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12
Q

instrument

A

the entity used to perform an action

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13
Q

Experiencer

A

The entity having a feeling, perception or state
e.g. “Mary see the car”
Experiencer “Mary”

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14
Q

Location

A

Where an entity is LOCATED

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15
Q

Source

A

Where an entity moves from

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16
Q

Goal

A

where an entity moves to
*usually “to” refers to the goal

17
Q

Hypernym

A

A broader category

18
Q

Hyponym

A

A more specific example of that category

19
Q

Co-hyponym

A

words under the same hypernym

20
Q

Prototype

A

A typical example that represents the larger category. It’s the first thing that comes to mind.

21
Q

Synonym

A

Words with overlapping meaning but are NOT identical

22
Q

Register

A

Changes in the words we use or way we speak depending on who we are talking to

23
Q

Antonym

A

2 words that are alike in most ways but contrast in one aspect of their meaning

24
Q

Complementary Antonym

A

you are either one or the other, never both at the same time

25
Q

Gradable Antonym

A

you CAN be both at the same time. These are words at the opposite ends of a continuous dimension (hot/cold; near/far; old/young)

26
Q

Reversive Antonym

A

When one word means the negation of the other. If you do the opposite, it creates the other one

27
Q

Homonym

A

General term for anything that has different meanings but are pronounced the same

28
Q

Homophones

A

A type of homonym that is a pair that is written differently, pronounced the same, and have non-connected meanings
e.g. to/two/too

29
Q

Polysemy

A

Terms that are pronounced the same, written the same, but meanings of the word is connected
ex. foot (foot of the bed, body part, mountain.) here it means the bottom of something

30
Q

Metonym

A

A figure of speech where something is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it.