Semantics: Concepts of meaning Flashcards
ambiguity
one form (linguistic sign) but several meanings
example: arm: upper limb or furnish with weapons
What is the relation between context and ambiguity?
context selects one of the available readings
What is the problem of ambiguity concerning its determination?
ambiguity or underspecification
example: Max bought a sweater. (which color?)
Ambiguity tests
test 1: ambiguous sentences can be true and false simultaneously (in different meanings)
example: Max left the bank two hours ago
financial institution, river bank and leave building or quit bank (institution)
test 2: zeugmatic effects
example: He closed the bank account and then the door
- -> close bank account: technical and gone
- -> close the door: physical and still there
test 3: existence of a sensible concept that ecompasses exactly the concepts denotes by the potential readings
example: croak
ambiguity can be divided in …
lexical and structural ambiguity
lexical ambiguity
one word has more than one meaning
example: arm
structural ambiguity
words in themselves do not have multiple meanings but their arrangement
example: Max saw the man with the telescope
–> either through the telescope or a man having a telescope
Which consequences does the structural ambiguity have concerning syntax?
there is also another way of combination of the constituents
What are the two subdivisions of lexical ambiguity?
homonymy and polysemy
homonymy
holds between different lexemes
the relation can be:
- -> accidental: arm
- -> relation is synchroncially/ no longer transparent: pupil
How are homonymious words listed in the dictionary?
they are listed as seperate lexical entries in a dictionary (subscribts)
polysemy
relates to different meanings of one single lexeme
–> the relation is systematic, meaning the meaning relations frequently recurr in the language
example: school –> building, group of people, activity, institution (also theater)
What are the subcategories of homonymy?
homography
homophony
homonymy proper
homography
identity of written form
lead: /lid/ guide or /lßd/ “Pb”
homophony
identity of spoken form
e.g. flower and flour
