Semantics Key Terms & Phrases Flashcards
Semantics
the study of meaning in language
Phonology
the study of the categorical organization of speech sounds in languages; how speech sounds are organized in the mind and used to convey meaning
Morphology
the study of words, including the principles by which they are formed, and how they relate to one another within a language
Polysemy
one form (written or spoken) having multiple meanings which are all related by extension
Metonymy
figure of speech in which the name of an object or concept is replaced with a word closely related to or suggested by the original
Verb Refer
having something particular in mind when saying a word; if you refer to a particular subject or person, you talk about them or mention them
Speaker-reference
what the speaker is referring to by using some linguistic expression
Linguistic-reference
the systematic devotion of some linguistic expression as part of a language
Pragmatics
a field of linguistics concerned with what a speaker implies and a listener infers based on contributing factors
Referent
the entity identified by the use of referring expression such as a noun or noun phrase is the referent of that expression
Extension
refers to the set of all potential referents for a referring expression
Prototype
A typical member of the extension of a referring expression is a prototype of that expression
Stereotype
A list of characteristics describing a prototype
Coreference
Two linguistic expressions that refer to the same real-world entity
Anaphora
A linguistic expression that refers to another linguistic expressions said to be anaphoric or an anaphor
Deixis
A deistic expression has one meaning but can refer to different entities depending on the speaker and his or her spatial and temporal orientation
The Principle of Compositionality
the semantic meaning of any unit of language is determined by the semantic meaning of its parts along with the way they are put together
Denotative Meaning
the logical meaning, which indicates the essential qualities of a concept which distinguish it from other concepts
Connotative Meaning
The additional or associated meaning, which is attached to the denotative, conceptual meaning. It consists of associations made with a concept whenever that concept is referred to.
Social Meaning
It is the meaning that a word possesses by virtue of its use in particular social situations and circumstances
Thematic Meaning
it lies in the manner in which a message is organized for emphasis
The Theory of Naming
This theory, explained in Plato’s dialogue Cratylus maintains that language is a communication system which works with two elements; the signifier, and the signified.
The Conceptual Theory of Meaning
words and things are related through the mediation of concepts of the mind
The Behavioristic Theory of Meaning
states meaning in which terms of the context in which language is used; the description of a language is not complete without some reference to the context of situation in which the language operated
