Semantics Flashcards
Semantics
the study of the relationship between words and how we draw meaning from those words
Semantic theories
is a theory which assigns semantic contents to expressions of a language
Compositional semantics
deals with how those lexical meanings combine to form more complex phrasal meanings
Lexical semantics
the branch of linguistics which is concerned with the systematic study of word meanings
Semantic features
An element of a word’s denotation or denotative meaning
Semantic roles
attempt to capture similarities and differences in verb meaning that are reflected in argument expression
Lexical relations
the connections established between one word and another
How is language organized in order to be meaningful?
Five major components of the structure of language are phonemes, morphemes, lexemes, syntax, and context. These pieces all work together to create meaningful communication among individuals
Referent
The entity identified by the use of a referring expression such as a noun or noun phrase
Extension
refers to the set of all potential referents for a referring expression
Prototype
A typical member of the extension of a referring expression
Stereotype
A list of characteristics describing a prototype
Coreference
Two linguistic expressions that refer to the same real-world entity are said to be coreferential
Anaphora
A linguistic expression that refers to another linguistic expression is said to be anaphoric or an anaphor
Deixis
A deictic expression has one meaning but can refer to different entities depending on
the speaker and his or her spatial and temporal orientation
Grammar
generate novel words, phrases, and sentences – in fact an infinite number of them
Synthetic sentences
one which is not analytic or contradictory, but which may be true or false depending on the way the world is
Theme
The entity that directly receives the action of the verb
Contradictory sentences
a sentence which is necessarily false, because of the senses of the words in the sentence
Analytic sentences
one which is necessarily true, because of the senses of the words in it
Collocation
Those words which tend to occur with other words
Metonymy
This relationship is essentially based on a close connection in everyday experience
Polysemy
It can be defined as one form (written or spoken) having multiple meanings which are all related by extension
Homonymy
It is when one form (written or spoken) has two or more unrelated meanings, but have the same pronunciation and spelling
Homography
When two or more forms are the same only in writing but different in pronunciation and meaning
Homophony
When two or more differently written forms have the same pronunciation but different meaning
Hyponymy
When the meaning of one form is included in the meaning of another
Synonymy
Two or more forms with very closely related meanings, which are often, but not always,
intersubstitutable in sentences
Antonymy
Two forms with opposite meanings
Benefactive
The noun or noun phrase that refers to the person or animal who benefits, or is meant to benefit, from the action of the verb
