Vocabulary: Semantics key terms and phrases Flashcards

1
Q

Semantics

A

The study of meaning in language, how it is constructed, interpreted, and negotiated by speakers of a language.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Historical Semantics

A

The study of the change of meanings of expressions through time, in particular the change of meaning of words.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Tonal effects

A

How difference in tone changes the meaning of the same phrase.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Stress effects

A

How the difference of how you stress words in a sentence changes the meaning of the same phrase.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Inflection

A

A change that signals the the grammatical function of words.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Derivation

A

The formation of a word from another word or base to change the meaning (ex: happy vs unhappy)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Pragmatics

A

Studies how the meaning of language changes in different contexts and how those contexts develop meaning. This is similar to Semantics, but is a different field.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Signifier

A

A sign’s physical form (such as a sound, printed word, or image) as distinct from its meaning.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Signified

A

The meaning or idea expressed by a sign, as distinct from the physical form in which it is expressed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Speaker-reference

A

What the speaker is referring to by using some linguistic expression

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Linguistic-reference

A

The symbolic relationship that a linguistic expression has with the concrete object or abstraction it represents.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Referent

A

The entity identified by the use of a referring expression like a noun or noun phrase. So when someone refers to a bird, the referent is the specific bird they are discussing.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Extension

A

Refers to the set of all potential referents for a referring expression. The extension of a noun includes all other referents.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Prototype

A

A typical member of the extension of a referring expression is a prototype of that expression. So if you refer to a bird, bluebirds and robins are prototypes of bird.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Stereotype

A

A general list of characteristics describing a prototype.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Coreference

A

Two linguistic expressions that refer to the same entity. Coreferential expressions are not necessarily synonymous, they just can refer to the same entity.

17
Q

Anaphora

A

A linguistic expression that refers to another entity through a linguistic expression that is not coreferent. For example, “Sarah would marry whoever would have her”

18
Q

Deixis

A

A deictic expression has a set meaning in context but can refer to different entities depending on the speaker and their immediate context.

19
Q

Semantic meaning

A

The literal answer of a direct question outside of its immediate context.

20
Q

Morphological Structure

A

The internal structure of words

21
Q

Syntactic Structure

A

The structure of words and phrases in a sentence

22
Q

Principle of Compositionality

A

The semantic meaning of any unit of language is determined by the semantic meanings of its parts along with the way they are put together.

23
Q

Compositional/Formal Semantics

A

Studies the variety of grammatical patterns that occur in individual languages and across other world languages.

24
Q

Lexical Semantics

A

Studies the meanings of words and relations among words’ meanings.

25
Denotative meaning
The logical meaning, which indicates the essential qualities of a concept outside of context.
26
Connotative meaning
The additional or associated meaning which is attached to the denotative, conceptual meaning of a concept.
27
Social meaning
The meaning that a word/phrase possesses by virtue of its use in particular social situations
28
Thematic meaning
Belonging to, relating to, or denoting the theme of a sentence.
29
The Conceptual Theory of Meaning
The theory that the meaning of signifier and signified are related through the mediation of concepts in the mind rather than their inherent qualities.
30
The Behavioristic Theory of Meaning
The theory that meaning cannot be derived from language without some reference to the context in which the language is operated.