Semantics Flashcards
Word meaning
Properties that reflect our knowledge about what words mean
Clarification of how certain words relate with other words
Interaction with different aspects of grammar , morphology and syntax
SEMANTICS
Three types of analysis to describe meaning:
Semantic features: words as “containers” sentences.
Semantic roles: “roles” fulfilled
Lexical relation: “relationship” with other words
Semantic feature analysis
Semantic properties: Components of meanings in a word.
Properties/features,possible values (+/-)
Example: Baby is (+young), (+human) (+animate)
Semantic roles
They fulfill the situation described in a sentence
Example:
The woman bought a dress
Verb………… indicates action
Woman ……… performs the action = agent
Dress ………….. Undergoes the action = theme
The NPs describe the roles of entities (people or things) involved in the action.They have certain semantic or thematic roles
Semantic roles (EXAMPLES)
Agent=the entitiy that performs the action
Theme=the entity that undergoes the action
Experiencer= one who perceives something
Instrument= an entity used to perform the action
Location=The place where the action happens
Source= the place form which an action originates
Goal= the place where the action is directed
SEMANTIC FEATURES OF NOUNS
Shows in what ways words are similar or different
Draws attention to the unique attributes of a word.
Clarifies student concepts [increases comprehension]
May easily be integrated within a lesson, at any stage [Pre reading, While reading, Post reading]
SEMANTIC FEATURES OF NOUNS (EXAMPLE)
The same semantic feature may be shared by many words
SEMANTIC FEATURES OF NOUNS (EXAMPLE)
female is a semantic feature for: woman, girl ,aunt
Human professor,teenager,doctor
Semantic properties may have syntactic and semantic effects.
SEMANTIC FEATURES OF NOUNS (EXAMPLE)
Count noun and mass nouns example: Touching ,but I said "French toast" not a "French toast " French toast = mass noun A french toast=count noun
SEMANTIC FEATURES OF VERBS
Verbs have semantic feature as part of their meaning.
SEMANTIC FEATURES OF VERBS
‘Darken’ cause to become dark
Verbal features may have syntactic consequences
SEMANTIC FEATURES OF VERBS
Verbs can describe events
John kissed Mary
Mary likes oysters
ANTONYMS
Share all but one semantic feature
´´big and red´ few semantic features
´Buy and sell´ are relational opposites
Three types of semantic analysis:
Words as ‘containers’ Semantic features (properties)
Three types of semantic analysis:
‘roles’ they fulfill Semantic roles
Three types of semantic analysis:
relationship’ with other words lexical relation
Name a few semantic features?
+animate, -animate, +female, -female
What’s another word for semantic roles?
Thematic roles.
What is hyponymy?
When the meaning of one word is included in the meaning of another.
Give one example of a hyponym.
Animal/dog
What are superordinate terms?
The higher level of a hyponym, E.g. Animal.
What are co-hyponyms?
When two or more words share the same superordinate term, such as dog and horse both sharing the superordinate term Animal.
What are prototypes?
The idea of chateristic instance of a category is known as the prototype.
Give one example of a prototype?
Bird” being used to categorize both canaries and penguins even though we don’t recognize them as being the same type of bird.
What are homophones?
Two or more different words that have the same pronunciation.
Give an example of homophones.
Meet/meat
What are homonyms?
When ONE form has two or more meanings.
Give an example of a homonym.
Bank of a river and a financial bank.
What is polysemy?
Two or more words with the same form and related meanings.
What is metonymy?
Substituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it (“The pen [writing] is mightier than the sword [war/fighting].”)
