Week 7 – synonymy and antonymy

Question 1

Synonymy – classification

Answer 1

1. total synonymy (rare)
   paradigmatically substitutable
   - substantive = noun
2. partial synonymy
   picture vs. film
   prostitute vs. hooker

Question 2

Antonymy – classification

Answer 2

1. ROOT (absolute) antonyms
   a) gradable (proper)
   - long x short, heavy x light…

b) complementary (ungradable)
- male x female, dead x alive, true x false

c) conversenes
- borrow x lend, husband x wife

d) directional opposition
- head – toe, start – finish, come –go

2. DERIVATIONAL antonyms
   happy x unhappy, lowland x highland, upstream x downstream
   - contextual opposites (red– white wine, I – you)
   - derivational opposites (low-key, high-key)
   - polyantonymy (sharp x continuous rise, sharp x mild taste)
   - enantiosemy (dusted furniture X face, gets her a present X we got a cattle)