Semantics Session 1 Word meaning reading material

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Section
2222
WORD MEANING
WORD MEANING is what a word means, i.e. “what counts as
the equivalent in the language concerned.” [Hurford and Heasley,
1984: 3]
2.1 Semantic features
2.1.1 Definition
Semantic features2
are “the smallest units of meaning in a
word.” [Richards et al, 1987: 254]
We identify the meaning of a word by its semantic
features. For example, father may have the following semantic
features: [+human], [+male], [+mature], [+parental] and
[+paternal]. And hen may be described as a set of the following
semantic features: [+animate], [+bird], [+fowl], [+fully grown]
and [+female].
2.1.2 Characteristics
2.1.2.1 Some semantic features need not be specifically
mentioned. For example, if a word is [+human] it is
“automatically” [+animate]. This generalization can be expressed
as a redundancy rule:
2
Semantic features are also referred to as semantic components or semantic
properties.

13
A word that is [+human] is [+animate].
That is why [+animate] need not be specified as a semantic
feature of father, girl, professor, etc. since the semantic feature
can be inferred from [+human].
Some redundancy rules infer negative semantic
features. Thus, semantic features are often shown in the form of
binary oppositions, which can be stated in terms of pluses and
minuses (that is, [+] and [−−−−]):
If father is [+human], it is therefore [−−−−inhuman];
If father is [+male], it is therefore [−−−−female];
If father is [+mature], it is therefore [−−−−immature];
If father is [+paternal], it is therefore [−−−−maternal].
Notice that we identify the meaning of a word according to its
primitive semantic features first, e.g. [+animate], [+human],
[+male], etc.; and then with the assistance of its other semantic
features, e.g. [+parental], [+paternal], etc.
2.1.2.2 Different words may share the same semantic
feature. In other words, the same semantic feature can be
found in many different words.
Ex1: Doctor, engineer, teacher, physicist, chemist,
tailor, hairdresser, etc. all share the same semantic feature
[+professional].
Ex2: Mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister,
grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. are all [+kinship].

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2.1.2.3 The same semantic feature can occur in words of
different parts of speech. In other words, words of different
parts of speech may share the same semantic feature.
For example, [+female] is part of the meaning of the noun
mother, the verb breast-feed and the adjective pregnant. And
[+educational] is a semantic feature found in the nouns school,
teacher, textbook, etc. and in the verbs teach, educate,
instruct, etc.
2.1.2.4 Fromkin and Rodman [1993: 148-149] confirm that
“the semantic properties of words determine what other
words they can be combined with.” These authors give the two
following sentences that are grammatically correct and
syntactically perfect but semantically anomalous:
(1) My brother is an only child.
(2) The bachelor is pregnant.
(1) is strange, or semantically anomalous, because this
sentence represents a contradiction: brother is [+having at least
one sibling] while an only child is [+having no other sibling];
(2) is semantically anomalous for a similar reason: bachelor is
[+male] whereas pregnant is [+female].
Here, Fromkin and Rodman also cite Noam Chomsky’s famous
classic example of semantically anomalous sentences:
(3) Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.
This sentence seems to obey all the syntactic rules of English:
its subject is colorless green ideas and its predicate is sleep
furiously; but there is obviously something semantically wrong

15
with the sentence. The adjective colorless is [−−−−colour], but it
occurs with the adjective green the semantic feature of which
[+green in colour]. How can something be [−−−−colour] and [+green
in colour] at the same time? In the same way, the noun ideas,
which is [+abstract], is semantically incompatible with the verb
sleep the noun phrase subject of which must be [+concrete] and
[+animate]. How can an abstract notion like ideas sleep? Then,
the verb sleep, whose adverbial collocations3
are well, badly and
soundly, is semantically incompatible with the adverb furiously.
How can a living being sleep when he is full of violent anger?
In conclusion, knowing all the possible semantic features of a
word enables us to combine semantically compatible words
together to form larger but meaningful linguistic units such as
phrases, clauses and sentences.
Fromkin and Rodman [1993:134] also believe that “because
we know the semantic properties of words, we know when two
words are antonyms, synonyms or homonyms, or are unrelated
in meaning.”
Exercise 1: For each group of words given below, state what
semantic features are shared by the (a) words and the (b)
words, and what semantic features distinguish between the
classes of (a) words and (b) words. The first one is done as an
example.
3
Collocations are regular combinations of words, e.g. by accident and strong tea
are English collocations.
Adverbial collocations refer to the adverbs regularly used together with a certain
verb.

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1. (a) lobster, shrimp, crab, oyster, mussel
(b) trout, sole, herring, salmon, mackerel
The (a) and (b) words are [+edible water animal].
The (a) words are [+shellfish].
The (b) words are [+fish].
2. (a) widow, mother, sister, aunt, seamstress
(b) widower, father, brother, uncle, tailor
The (a) and (b) words are ___________________________
The (a) words are _________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
3. (a) bachelor, son, paperboy, pope, chief
(b) bull, rooster, drake, ram, stallion
The (a) and (b) words are ___________________________
The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are _________________________________
4. (a) table, pencil, cup, house, ship, car
(b) milk, tea, wine, beer, water, soft drink
The (a) and (b) words are ____________________________
The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
5. (a) book, temple, mountain, road, tractor
(b) idea, love, charity, sincerity, bravery, fear

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The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
6. (a) rose, lily, tulip, daisy, sunflower, violet
(b) ash, oak, sycamore, willow, beech
(c) pine, cedar, jew, spruce, cypress
The (a) (b) and (c) words are _________________________
The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
The (c) words are __________________________________
7. (a) book, letter, encyclopaedia, novel, notebook, dictionary
(b) typewriter, pencil, ballpoint, crayon, quill, charcoal, chalk
The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
8. (a) walk, run, skip, jump, hop, swim
(b) fly, skate, ski, ride, cycle, canoe, hang-glide
The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
9. (a) ask, tell, say, talk, converse
(b) shout, whisper, mutter, drawl, holler

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The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
10. (a) alive, asleep, awake, dead, half-dead, pregnant
(b) depressed, bored, excited, upset, amazed,
surprised
The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
Exercise 2: Identify the semantic features in each of the
following words.
1. Child:_____________________________________________
2. Aunt: ____________________________________________
3. Hen: _____________________________________________
4. Oak (-tree): ______________________________________
5. Flower: ___________________________________________
6. Palm: _____________________________________________
7. Bachelor: _________________________________________
8. Actress: __________________________________________
9. Plod: _____________________________________________
10. Ewe:_____________________________________________
11. Fly: _____________________________________________

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12. Stallion: _________________________________________
13. Police-officer: ___________________________________
14. Beauty: __________________________________________
15. Imagine: _________________________________________
16. Doe: ____________________________________________
17. Drive: ___________________________________________
18. Home: __________________________________________
19. Elm: ____________________________________________
20. Chalk: ___________________________________________
21. Rose: ____________________________________________
22. Chick: ___________________________________________
23. Pap: _____________________________________________
24. Tiptoe: __________________________________________
25. Pine (-tree): _____________________________________
26. Owe: ____________________________________________
27. Computer: _______________________________________
28. Honesty: ________________________________________
29. Maid: ___________________________________________
30. Spinster: ________________________________________
Exercise 3: How can you distinguish the words given in the
following table from one another, considering their semantic
features?

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Malay English Vietnamese Chinese
anh huynh
brother
ñeä
em
muoäi
sadara
sister
chò tyû
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
2.2 Componential analysis
In Semantics, componential analysis is “an approach to the
study of meaning which analyses a word into a set of
meaning components or semantic features.” [Richards et al,
1987: 53]
For example, the meaning of boy may be shown as [+human],
[+male] and [−adult] while that of man may be a combination of
[+human], [+male] and [+adult]. Thus, man is different from boy
basically in one primitive semantic feature: [±adult].

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Generally speaking, componential analysis is applied to a
group of related words which may differ from one another only
by one or two semantic features.
2.3 Semantic fields
2.3.1 Definition
A semantic field4
is “the organization of related words
and expressions into a system which shows their
relationship to one another.” [Richards et al, 1987: 53]
A semantic field can also be defined as “a set of words with
identifiable semantic affinities.” [Finegan, 1994: 164]
Ex1. The semantic field of kinship terms: father, mother,
brother, sister, uncle, aunt, etc.
Ex2. The semantic field of adjectives describing human
emotional states: angry, sad, happy, exuberant,
depressed, afraid, etc.
Ex3. The semantic field of drinking vessels: cup, mug,
tumbler, wine glass, beer glass, etc.
2.3.2 Ways of organising semantically similar items into
semantic fields
There are various ways according to which semantically
similar items are related to one another:
(a) Items related by topics:
4
A semantic field is also referred to as a lexical field or a lexical set.

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• Types of fruit: apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, pears,
plums, etc.
• Pieces of furniture: seats, tables, beds, storage, etc.
• Terms of colour: blue, red, yellow, green, black, white, etc.
(b) Items similar in meaning:
• Ways of cooking: stew, boil, fry, steam, roast, grill, smoke,
etc.
• Ways of looking5
: gaze, glance, peer, squint, stare, etc.
• Ways in which a liquid escapes from its container
6
: drip,
leak, ooze, run, seep, etc.
5
Gaze = look long and steadily (at somebody/something) usually in surprise or
admiration: She gazed at me in disbelief when I told her the news.
Glance = take a quick look at: She glanced shyly at him and then lowered her eyes.
Peer (at, through, up, etc,) = look closely and carefully, especially as if unable to see
well: peer at somebody, peer out of the window, peer over the wall, peer through
the gap, peer over one’s spectacles, etc.
Squint (at, through, up, etc,) = look (at somebody/something) with eyes half shut or
turn sideways, or through narrow opening: squint in the light of sunshine, squint
through the letter box.
Stare = look (at somebody/something) with the eyes wide open in a fixed gaze (in
astonishment, wonder, fear, etc.): They all stared in/with amazement.It’s rude tostare.
6
Drip (allow liquid to) fall in drops: Rain was dripping down from the trees. Is that
roof still dripping?
Leak (allow liquid or air to) get in or out wrongly: The boat leaks like a sieve. Air
leaked out of the balloon.
Ooze (from/out of something; out/away) = (allow a thick liquid to) come or flow out slowly:
Black oil was oozing out of the engine. All the toothpaste has oozed out.
Run = (allow a liquid to) flow: The River Rhine runs into the North Sea. Water was
running all over the bathroom floor. The bathroom floor was running with water.
Seep (through/into/out of something; through/out) = (of a liquid) flow slowly and in small
quantities through a substance: Water seeped through the roof of the tunnel.

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(c) Terms describing people whose weight is below
normal:7
thin, bony, skinny, scrawny, underweight,
emaciated, slender, slim, etc.
(d) Items which form pairs of antonyms: long/short,
light/heavy, alive/dead, love/hate,
approve/disapprove, approve/disapprove, begin/end,
inside/outside, upstairs/downstairs, etc.
Oil is seeping through a crack in the tank.
“Drip, leak, ooze, run, seep indicate the way in which a liquid escape from a
container or tap. Most (not seep) also indicate the way in which a container or tap
allows a liquid to escape. 1 Drip = (allow sth to) fall in regular drops: Water is
dripping from the pipe. The pipe is dripping (water). 2 Leak = (allow sth to) get
out (through a hole in sth): Wine is leaking from the barrel. The barrel is leaking
(wine). 3 Ooze = (allow sth to) move slowly (out of sth) because thick: Blood is
oozing from the wound. The wound is oozing (blood). 4 Run = (allow sth to) flow
continuously (from sth): Water is running from the tap. The tap is running. 5
Seep = move slowly (through a small opening in sth) because thick: Oil is seeping
from the engine.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 272]
7
“When describing people whose weight is below normal, thin is the most general word,
It may be negative, suggesting weakness or lack of health: She‘s gone terribly thin
since operation. Bony is often applied to parts of the body such as hands or face;
skinny and scrawny are negative and can suggest lack of strength: He looks much
too skinny/scrawny to be a weight-lifter. Underweight is the most neural: The
doctor says I’m underweight. Emaciated indicates a serious condition resulting from
starvation. It is often thought desirable to be slim or slender, slim being used
especially of those who have reduced their weight by diet or exercise: I wish I was
as slim as you. You have a beautifully slender figure.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 947]

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(e) Items which form pairs or trios of synonyms:
smart/bright/intelligent, conserve/preserve/safeguard,
fix/repair/mend,kind/sort/type/variety, happy/glad,etc.
(f) Items grouped as an activity or a process:
• Do the housework: clean the rooms, do the washing, iron
the clothes, get the food, prepare a meal, wash up, etc.
• Do research: make hypotheses, collect data, analyze data,
get results and come to conclusions.
(g) Items classified according to:
Male: waiter, tiger, actor, host, landlord, sir, etc.
• Sex
Female: waitress, tigress, actress, hostess,
landlady, madam, etc.
• Age: grown-ups, adults, elderly people, middle-aged
people, teenagers, children, infants, babies, etc.
• Age and sex:
horse ⇒ stallion:[+male],[+fully grown] dog ⇒ dog: [+male],[+fully grown]
mare:[+female],[+fully grown] bitch:[+female],[+fully grown]
foal: [±±±±male], [−−−−fully grown] puppy: [±±±±male], [−−−−fully grown]
Exercise 4: Organise the given words (and probably those of your
own) into three semantic fields: shirts, end, forward(s), new,
hats, lend, coats, shorts, beginning, trousers, amble, out,

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limp, tiptoe, plod, socks, trudge, borrow, stomp, in, stump,
old, backward(s), and tramp.
1._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
3._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2.4 Lexical gaps
“The absence of a word in a particular place in a lexical
field of a language” is called a lexical gap. [Richards et al, 1987:
164]
For example, in English there is no singular noun that covers
bull, cow and calf either as horse covers stallion, mare and foal
or as goat covers billy-goat, nanny-goat and kid.
horse goat ?
stallion mare foal billy-goat nanny-goat kid bull cow calf
Exercise 5: Try to fill in each of the two blanks with an
appropriate word to prove that there is no lexical gap in the
given semantic fields.

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sheep giraffe
ram ewe male giraffe baby giraffe
2.5 Referent, reference and sense
2.5.1 Distinction between referent, reference and sense
In Semantics, a distinction is often made between referent,
reference and sense:
2.5.1.1 A referent is an object or an entity in the real
world or in the world of your imagination, e.g. your school,
your classmates, your teacher, any thing you can see in the
classroom right now, the idealistic working conditions you have
ever dreamed of, etc. that is talked about.
Several words, especially the so-called function words8
, have
no obvious referents: the, could, in, since, and, etc.
2.5.1.2 The reference of a word9
or a linguistic expression is
the relationship between that word or expression and the thing
(book), the action (read), the event (graduate from university),
the quality (sincerity), etc. it refers to.
8
It is commonly believed that function words like prepositions (of, in, etc.),
definite and indefinite articles (the, a/an), conjunctions (if, however, or, etc.),
and auxiliaries (may, should, will, etc.) only “signal grammatical relations.”
[Finegan, 1994: 175]
9
Or, to be more precise, a lexical item

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For example, the reference of Peter’s house is the
relationship between this English noun phrase and the house that
belongs to Peter.
Peter’s house the house that belongs to Peter
(in the Eng. language) REFERENCE (in the real world)
2.5.1.3 The sense10
of a word or a linguistic expression11
shows the internal relationship between that word or expression
and others in the vocabulary of a language.
Ex1. Teacher and student have the sense relationship of the former
is the one who gives a lesson and the latter is the one
who has the lesson given by the former.
Ex2. A dog is chasing a cat has some sense. However, a dog is
human has no sense.
Ex3. The King of Vietnam is bald has some sense: its sense is
constructed by its individual lexical components and its
syntactic structure. However, this sentence has no reference: it
does not refer to any real person because the King of
Vietnam does not exist nowadays.
Consider the following table and identify referent,
reference and sense via their main features.
10
It is necessary to notice that the two linguistic terms sense and meaning will be
used interchangeably from now on in this text.
11
“The SENSE of an expression is its indispensable hard core of meaning.”
[Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 91]

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REFERENT REFERENCE SENSE
in the external
world
between a language
and the external
world
in a language
either real
or imaginary
abstract abstract
bachelor
a man who has not
ever been married
the relationship
between the word
bachelor and a certain
unmarried man
unmarried
man
Baïch
Tuyeát
the lovely princess
in a fairy tale which
I have already read
the relationship
between
the name Baïch Tuyeát
and the very princess
“Tuyeát Traéng”
2.5.2 Distinction between variable reference, constant
reference and co-reference
2.5.2.1 When the same linguistic expression refers to different
referents, it has variable reference.
Ex1. There are as many potential referents for the phrase your
left ear as there are people with a left ear in the world.
Ex2. The referent of the phrase the present prime minister
used in Britain in 1944 is Mr. Churchill and in 1982 is Mrs.
Thatcher.

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2.5.2.2 When one linguistic expression refers to one and the
same referent, it has constant reference: the sun, the moon,
Halley’s comet12
, the People’s Republic of China, Angola, the
United Nations, FIFA, UNESCO, etc.
2.5.2.3 When two or more linguistic expressions share the
same referent, they have co-reference.
Ex1. The morning star and the evening star both refer to
the planet called Venus.
Ex2. In a conversation about Britain in 1982, the Prime
Minister and the leader of the Conservative Party
share the same referent: Mrs Thatcher.
Ex3. If we are talking about a situation in which John is
standing alone in the corner, John and the person in
the corner share the same referent.
Exercise 6: What is identified by the word mean or meaning in
the following examples, i.e. reference or sense? Write R for
reference and S for sense.
_____ 1. When Albert talks about “his former friend”, he means me.
_____ 2. Daddy, what does logic mean?
_____ 3. Purchase has the same meaning as buy.
12
Halley’s comet is the bright comet which reappears about every 76 years. It was first
recorded in 240 BC, and the fact of its regular return was established by Edmond
Halley. Its next reappearance is due in 2061.

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_____ 4. Look up the meaning of democracy in your dictionary.
_____ 5. If you look out of the window now, you’ll see who I mean.
2.6 Denotation13
and connotation14
2.6.1 Definition
The denotation of a word is the core, central or
referential meaning of the word found in a dictionary. In
English, a content word15
may have its denotation described in
terms of a set of semantic features that serve to identify the
particular concept associated with the word.
The connotation of a word is the additional meaning that
the word has beyond its denotative meaning. It shows
people’s emotions and/or attitudes16
towards what the word
refers to.
13
Denotation is also referred to as denotative meaning.
14
Connotation is also referred to as connotative meaning.
15
Content words — principally nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs like
democracy, mother, stir-fry, happy, and totally — “have meaning in that they
refer to objects, events, and abstract concepts” [Finegan, 1994: 161] while
function words specifically articles, prepositions, conjunctions and auxiliaries
like a/an, including, nevertheless, but, should, etc. also carry meaning, though
in a different way from content words: “to signal grammatical relations.”
[Finegan, 1994: 175]
16
“The referential meaning of a word or sentence is frequently called its
denotation, in contrast to the connotation, which includes both its social and
affective meaning.” [Finegan, 1994: 161]

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Ex1. Child is denotatively described as [+human], [−mature]
and [±male].
Under a certain circumstance, child may positively be
connoted as [+affectionate] or [+innocent].
Under another circumstance, child may negatively be connoted
as [+noisy] or [+irritating].
Ex2. Woman is denotatively described as [+human], [+mature]
and [+female].
Under a certain circumstance, woman may positively be
connoted as [+devoted] or [+patient].
Under another circumstance, woman may negatively be
connoted as [+wicked] or [+talkative].
The denotation of a word can easily be found in a dictionary
while its connotation(s) may probably depend on such factors as
(1) the culture in which the word is used; (2) the language user’s
family and/or educational background; (3) the language user’s
social and/or political class; (4) the language user’s speech
community and/or ethnic group; etc. In brief, these factors are
by virtue of personal and cultural associations.
2.6.2 Distinction between denotation and connotation
Consider the following table and identify denotation and
connotation via their main features.

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DENOTATION CONNOTATION
what a lexical item
means
emotions and/or attitudes towards
what a lexical item refers to
core, central peripheral
referential social, affective
bachelor unmarried man
- still single after the usual age for marrying
- decided by himself to stay single
- enjoying freedom, friendship, life, etc.
- ready for his impending marriage
spinster unmarried woman
- still singleaftertheusualageformarrying
- not decided by herself to stay single
- left in an unfavourable state
- a symbol for some failure in life
December
the twelfth month
of the year, next
after November
bad weather (usually rainy or snowy),
dark evening, grey sky, slippery streets,
holiday season, Christmas, winter break,
loneliness, separation from the beloved
Ex1. The word fox almost always has a negative connotation in
English when it is associated with any person who is cunning
or deceitful.

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Ex2. Some English words usually have positive connotations (+);
others usually have neutral connotations (∅); still others
usually have negative connotations (−):
- mother/mom (+), woman (∅), witch (−);
- father/dad (+), man (∅), the old man (−);
- slender (+), thin (∅), skinny (−);
- plump (+), overweight (∅), fat (−).
Ex3. Synonyms, words that have the same basic meaning, do
not always have the same emotional meaning. For
example, the words stingy and frugal both mean ‘careful
with money.’ However, to call a person stingy is an insult,
while the word frugal has a much more positive connotation.
Similarly, a person wants to be slender but not skinny, and
aggressive17
but not pushy. Therefore, you should be
careful in choosing words because many so-called
synonyms are not really synonyms at all.
Exercise 7: Identify all the possible connotations associated with
the word Christmas.
__________________________________________________
________________________________________________
17
Aggressive (often approved) = forceful = (self-)assertive = showing strong and
confident personality; expressing one’s views; demands; etc. confidently:
A good salesman must be aggressive if he wants to be succeeded.
Pushy (also pushing, informally derogative) = trying constantly to draw attention
to oneself and gain an advantage:
He made himself unpopular by being so pushy.

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2.7 Multiple senses of lexical items
2.7.1 Primary meaning vs. secondary meaning
The first and foremost distinction made in multiple senses of a
word is between its primary and secondary meanings.
2.7.1.1 The primary meaning of a word (or, to be more
precise, a lexical item) is the first meaning or usage that the
word will suggest to most people when it is said in isolation.
The primary meaning of the English noun wing, for instance,
is ‘either of the pair of feathered limbs that a bird uses to fly.’
2.7.1.2 Secondary meanings of a word are the meanings
besides its primary meaning. They are said to be not central but
peripheral.
In addition, secondary meanings of a word are context-
bound whereas its primary meaning is not.
In He usually plays on the wing, for example, wing means
‘side part of the playing area in football, hockey, etc.’ Such a
secondary meaning is derived from the context denoted by the
verb plays.
2.7.2 Literal meaning vs. figurative meaning
It is time to distinguish then within all the possible meanings of
the English noun wing, for example, those that are literal and those
that are figurative.
2.7.2.1 “The basic or usual meaning of a word” [Crowther
(ed.), 1992: 527] is usually referred to as its literal meaning.

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Some literal meanings are identified via context in the noun wing:
Part that projects from the side of an aircraft and supports it
in the air: the two wings of an airplane;
Part of a building that projects from the main part:
the east/west wing of a house;
Projecting part of the body of a motor vehicle above the wheel:
The left wing of his car was damaged in the collision;
Part of a political party that holds certain views or has a
particular function: the radical wing of the Labour Party.
2.7.2.2 The figurative meaning of a word is one which is
different from its usual (literal) meaning and which create
vivid mental images to readers or listeners.
Below are some figurative meanings of the noun wing:
- We hope college life will help him to spread his wings a bit.
(= extend his activities and interests)
- Having a new baby to look after has clipped her wings a bit.
(= has prevented her from achieving her ambition)
- She immediately took the new arrivals under her wing.
(= looked after the new arrivals)
- He retires as chairman next year; his successor is waiting in
the wings. (= is ready to replace him)
Wing is an English word that has several closely related but
slightly different meanings. It is said to be polysemous.

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2.8 Figures of speech
A figure of speech is “a word or phrase which is used for
special effect, and which does not have its usual or literal
meaning.” [Richards et al, 1987: 105]
2.8.1 Simile and metaphor
2.8.1.1 Definition
Simile is “the use of comparison of one thing with
another, eg. as brave as a lion, a face like a mask. [Crowther (ed.),
1992: 848]
It is incredible to notice that not all comparisons belong to simile,
eg. He is much taller than his elder brother. Only the comparisons
clearly employed as examples of figures of speech do.
Metaphor is “the use of a word or phrase to indicate
something different from (though related in some way to)
the literal meaning, as in I’ll make him eat his words or She has a
heart of stone.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 564]
2.8.1.2 Distinction between a simile and a metaphor
A simile is an explicit or direct comparison in which
something is compared to something else by the use of a
function word such as like or as:
- My hands are as cold as ice. (= My hands are very cold.)
- Tom eats like a horse.
(= Tom eats as much as a horse does. In other words, Tom’s
appetite IS explicitly COMPARED TO that of a horse.)

37
A metaphor is an implicit or indirect comparison in which
no function word is used. Something is described by stating another
thing with which it can be compared:
- She has a heart of stone.
(= She has a pitiless and unfeeling nature.)
- I’ll make him eat his word.
(= I’ll make him admit that what he’s said is wrong.)
- He was a lion in the fight.
(= He fought bravely and successfully just like a lion
in the fight for food.)
- His words stabbed at her heart.
(= Like a knife, his words are so sharp that they can
cause great pain or much unhappiness for her. In other
words, his words did not actually stab, but their effect IS
implicitly COMPARED TO the stabbing of a knife.)
2.8.1.3 Distinction between dead metaphors18
and live metaphors
Dead metaphors are used so often that they have lost
their metaphoric characteristics: the leg/face of the table,
the back of the chair, the mouth of the river, the head of the
state, the childhood of the earth, etc.
Dead metaphors are in fact idioms19
or fixed expressions
that native speakers of a language give special meanings and use
18
Dead metaphors are also called either unconscious or fossilized metaphors.
19
An idiom is an expression which functions as a single unit and whose meaning
cannot be worked out from its separate parts. Thus, we cannot understand an

38
naturally and unconsciously: these speakers do not pay attention to
the implicit comparison found in any dead metaphor; they just
think directly of its meaning used in a given context:
- He looks as though he hasn’t had a square meal for months.
(= a large and satisfying meal)
- He washed his hand out of the matter.
(= refused to have anything more to do with the matter)
Live metaphors20
are implied or indirect comparisons
which have a variety of figurative meanings through their
endless use: Tom is a pig may be interpreted as Tom is short
and fat, Tom is slow and lazy, Tom is greedy, Tom is not
intelligent, Tom is neither intelligent nor ambitious, etc.
Live metaphors can only be understood after the implicit
comparison found in any of them is seriously considered and
fully appreciated. Native speakers of a language use live
metaphors intentionally and creatively in order to make their
speech more vivid, figurative, concise, etc.: You are a mist that
appears for a little time and then vanishes.
(= You are implicitly compared to a mist that does not last
long, i.e. you come and leave quickly.)
idiom just by looking at the separate meanings or the word classes of its
members. We have to consider an idiom as a whole and figure out its meaning
in context.
- His excuses cut no ice with me. (= had little or no effect on me)
- The project has been going great guns.(=proceeding vigorously & successfully)
20
Live metaphors are also called conscious metaphors.

39
2.8.2 Personification
Personification is a special kind of metaphor in which some
human characteristic is attributed to an inanimate object
or abstract notion; that is, a lifeless thing or quality is
stated as if it were living, as in pitiless cold, cruel heat, a
treacherous calm, a sullen sky, a frowning rock, the thirsty
ground, the laughing harvest, the childhood of the world, the
anger of the tempest, the deceitfulness of riches, etc.
2.8.3 Metonymy
2.8.3.1 Definition
Metonymy is the substitution of the name of one thing for
that of another to which it is related/with which it is
associated. (In Greek, meta- means ‘substitution’ and onyma
means ‘name’.)
(a) A sign substitutes for the person or the object it signifies or
symbolizes.
- He succeeded to the crown (= the royal office).
- She is a fighter against red tape (= bureaucracy, office routine).
- The new proposal might affect the cloth (= the clergy) in some way.
- Backstairs did influence.
(= intrigues, secret plans to do something bad, secret arrangements)
- Can you protect your children from the cradle to the grave?
(= from childhood to death)

40
(b) An instrument substitutes for an agent.
-The pen (= the writer) has more influence than the sword
(= the soldier).
- He is the best pen (= the best writer) of the day.
- Who brought fire and sword (= adestructive war) into our country?
- We need a force of a thousand rifles (= soldiers).
- Sceptre and crown (= kings)
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crooked scythe and spade (= peasants).
[James Shirley]
(= Like peasants, kings must die.)
(c) A container substitutes for the thing contained.
- The kettle (= the water in the kettle) is boiling.
- He drank the cup.
(= the coffee, the tea, the chocolate, etc. in the cup)
- He is too fond of the bottle (= the liquor in the bottle).
- The conquerors smote the city (= the inhabitants of the city).
- Why don’t you recognize the power of the purse?
(= the money kept in the purse)
(d) The concrete, like an organ of the human body,
substitutes for the abstract such as love, hatred, sincerity, a
mental ability, a natural talent, etc.

41
- She has an ear for music. (= She possesses a remarkable talent
for learning, imitating, appreciating, etc. music.)
- She has a good head of business.
(= She is gifted in/is clever at dealing with business.)
(e) The abstract substitutes for the concrete:
- His Majesty (= the king) died a year ago.
- His Holiness (= the Pope) has just come back to Rome.
- The authorities put an end to the riot.
(= the group of people who have the power to give orders or take action)
(f) The material substitutes for the thing made.
- The marble (= the marble statue21
) speaks.
- All our glass is kept in the cupboard.
(= vessels and articles made of glass)
- He was buried under this stone.
(= this tomb made of stone, this tombstone)
(g) An author/a producer/a place where goods are made
substitutes for his work(s)/its product(s).
- I have never read Keat (= Keat’s poems).
- Have you ever read Homer (= the works of Homer)?
- I love old china (= crockery made in China).
21
A scene found in a fairly tale shows the prince of a kingdom going for a walk
in his garden. When passing by the marble statue, he notices a sweet call:
“My dear prince!”

42
2.8.3.2 Distinction between metaphor and metonymy
On the one hand, metaphor is based on the associated
similarity shared by the two things being implicitly
compared. In other words, only if A and B are similar to each other
in some way can the name commonly referred to A be
metaphorically used to refer to B.
On the other hand, metonymy does not depend on such
similarity.
Let’s consider the two following sentences:
(1) The organization is keeping the brake on pay rises.
(2) No man is an island: entire of itself; every man is a piece of the
continent.
The sentence marked (1) exemplifies a metaphor: the core
meaning of keep the brake on a certain vehicle in order to reduce
its speed or to stop it has been changed to its metaphoric
meaning: control pay rises or cause pay rises to slow down.
The whole sentence means the organization is controlling the
increase in the amounts/sums of money paid for its current
activities.
This sentence marked (2) consists of two metonymies:
respectively, an island and the continent, which are both
[+concrete], stand for isolation and community, which are both
[+abstract].
The whole sentence means no one can isolate himself from the
community he has been living in.

43
2.8.4 Synecdoche
2.8.4.1 Definition
Synecdoche is a special kind of metonymy in which “a part
or aspect of a person, object, etc. is meant to refer to the
whole person, object, etc.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 925]
- They organized a fleet of fifty sails (= ships).
- He is a man of seventy winters (= years of age).
- He managed to earn his bread (= necessaries).
- This is a village of only more than one hundred souls
(= people).
- Gray hairs (= old or elderly people) should be respected.
Synecdoche also involves a whole or genus used to
substitute for a part or species: vessel for ship, the smiling
year for the smiling season of the year, especially the spring, the
Christian world for the Christian Church as a whole, etc.
2.8.4.2 Distinction between metonymy and synecdoche
Let’s consider the four following sentences:
(1) The princess captures the hearts of the nation.
The hearts, which is [+organ of the human body] and thus
[+concrete], is used to stand for the love, which is [+emotional
experience] and thus [+abstract]. The hearts in this case is a
metonymy. The sentence means all the people of that country love
the princess.

44
(2) He has a kind heart.
A heart, which is [+organ of the human body], [+concrete] and
[+part], is used to stand for a person, which is [+human], [+concrete]
and [+whole]. A kind heart in this case is a synecdoche. The
sentence means he is a kind/kind-hearted person who is concerned for
others around him.
(3) Spare the rod and spoil the child.
The rod, which is [+thing] and thus [+concrete], is used to
stand for the punishment, which is [+human activity], [+intention] and
thus more or less [+abstract]. The rod in this case is a metonymy.
The sentence means if you do not punish a child when he does wrong, you
will spoil his character.
(4) All hands on deck did help.
Hands, which is [+organ of the human body], [+concrete] and
[+part], is used to stand for people, which is [+human], [+concrete]
and [+whole]. In this case, hands must be a synecdoche. This
sentence means all the people on one of the floors of the ship worked
hard to accomplish a certain task.
2.8.5 Hyperbole
Hyperbole, which is also called overstatement, is the use of
“exaggerated statement that is made for special effect
and is not meant to be taken literally.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992:
446]

45
Below are a few hyperboles or overstatements:
- I’ve invited millions of (= a lot of) people to my party.
- She sheds floods of tears (= cries a lot) whenever she is upset.
- Don’t live in such a sea of doubt!
(= Don’t be too suspicious!)
- Never in a million years will he admit defeat.
(= He will never admit defeat.)
- I haven’t seen you for ages.
(= for a few weeks, for a couple of months, for a while)
2.8.6 Litotes
Litotes, which is also called meiosis, is the use of
deliberately gentler, milder or weaker statements to
express something in a controlled way.
- I don’t think I would agree with you. (= I disagree with you.)
- I am afraid that no passenger is allowed to smoke in here.
(= You are not allowed to smoke in here.)
Quite often, an expression of litotes is an “ironical
understatement, especially using a negative to emphasize
the contrary.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 527]
- It’s not bad. (= It is fine.)
- It wasn’t easy. (= It was very difficult.)
- Always remember that she is no fool.
(= She is worldly-wise, in fact.)
- Jim was rather upset when he again failed in the final exam.
(= very upset)

46
2.8.7 Irony
Irony is the “expression of one’s meaning by saying the
direct opposite of one’s thoughts in order to be emphatic, amusing,
sarcastic, etc.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 479]
Below are a few expressions of irony:
- What a lovely day it was! Everything I had went wrong.
- He is so intelligent that no examiner has agreed to pass him
so far.
- He is lucky to have such an ugly and awkward wife.
- She is extremely unlucky to be born
in such a prosperous family in a developed European country.
- Your plan is really tricky. The other team will figure it out
in about one play.
2.8.8 Euphemism
2.8.8.1 Definition
Euphemism is “the use of pleasant, mild or indirect words
or phrases in place of more accurate or direct ones.”
[Crowther (ed.), 1992: 305] Respectively, morticians (also called
undertakers) and a garbage man may be euphemistically replaced
by funeral directors and a sanitation engineer.
2.8.8.2 Distinction between a taboo word and a euphemism.
A taboo word, a ‘dirty’ word, is the word or the linguistic
expression that refers to a taboo act or behaviour in a society,
a culture or a speech community while a euphemism is the word or
the linguistic expression that replaces a taboo word or serves
to avoid a frightening or unpleasant subject.

47
It is crucial to recognize that a taboo word and its
euphemism share the same denotative meaning but they differ in
their connotative meanings: the taboo word has a negative
connotation whereas its euphemism has a positive connotation.
Below are a number of common euphemisms and theirtaboo words:
Euphemisms Taboo words
social disease syphilis
criminal assault rape
handicapped crippled
mentally ill insane
underprivileged poor
developing or less developed (country) poor (country)
(more) developed (country) rich (country)
senior citizens the aged
laid to rest buried
perspiration sweat
intoxicated drunk
abdomen belly
odour stink or smell
expectorate spit
retarded or unusual mentally defective
hard of hearing deaf
love child bastard

48
Below are a few expressions of euphemism:
- Pass away is a euphemism for die.
- He was his Majesty’s guest for two years is a euphemism
for He was in jail for two years.
2.8.9 Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is the imitation of natural sounds by means
of words or groups of words. Hiss, cuckoo, thud, moo, baa,
hush, pop, etc. are onomatopoeic words. Growl, splash, crackle,
etc. exemplify semi-onomatopoeia.
Onomatopoeia can be identified in the following sentences:
- She is always squeaking and squawking.
- We could hear the enemy guns booming (away) in the distance.
- He felt a tap on his shoulder.
- Rain was dripping down from the trees. Its steady drip kept
me awake all night long.
Exercise 8: Interpret the meaning the following sentences and
state what kind of figures of speech (also called figurative
language) used in each of them.
1. When he gets going, Jack is a streak of lightning.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

49
2. I found the fifty-two pounds of books you left for me to carry. Your
kindness really moved me.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3. The man is a demon for work.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
4. When you take that course, plan to study thirty hours a day.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
5. The wind howled angrily around the house all night.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
6. When the White House called, the ambassador went at once.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
7. My dormitory room is like a cave.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

50
8. Come to the dormitory and see what a cave I live in.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
9. Dick was fairly pleased when he won the brand-new car in the contest.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
10. If you are not happy with the service, go and talk to the City Hall.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
11. Man does not live by bread alone.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
12. We now live under the same roof.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
13. Albert was as sharp as a tack this morning. He answered every
question as soon as it was asked.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

51
14. The river ate the bank away.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
15. Keep overeating like that and pretty soon you’ll weigh a
thousand pounds.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
16. After she heard the good news, she grinned like a mule eating briars.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
17. The captain was in charge of one hundred horses.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
18. Joe cried a little when he lost the thousand dollars.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
19. You can depend on Gina; she is a rock when trouble comes.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

52
20. Life is a dream.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
21. He’s so hardheaded that he won’t listen to anyone.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
22. Research says that these methods are best.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
23. Right at this minute, I could drink a barrel of water without
stopping.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
24. It is amazing what a great mind he is.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
25. Alice came in gently, like a May breeze.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

53
26. Susie is a picture of loveliness in her new dress.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
27. A thousand thanks are for your kindness.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
28. I walked past the big sad mouth which didn’t know what to say then.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
29. We are tired to death of such movies.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
30. Give every man thine ears, bid a few thy voice.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
31. There was a storm in Parliament last night.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

54
32. I’m afraid he has misrepresented the facts.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
33. He worked and worked until he breathed his last.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
34. We’ll just have to go our separate ways.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
35. They were vital, unforgettable matches that gave us a new
window on the game.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
36. I’ve told you a thousand times not to touch that again.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
37. He is as mute as a fish.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

55
38. We stopped to drink in the beautiful scenery.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
39. His words can be trusted.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
40. The police team has cemented close ties with the hospital staff.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
41. The boss gave her a hot look.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
42. He could not bridle his anger.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
43. He attacked every weak point in my argument.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

56
44. In 1940, after the fall of France, England had no defense left but
her ancient valor.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
45. The fire snaps and crackles like a whip; its sharp acrid smoke stings
the eyes. It is the fire that drives a thorn of memory in my heart.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
46. The organization is keeping the brake on pay rises.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
47. Her father is a captain of industry.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
48. I am the captain of my soul.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
49. To fall out of a tree in one’s early childhood is not a particularly
reassuring experience.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

57
50. Nomanis anisland: entire of itself; everymanis apiece of the continent.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2.9 Hyponymy
2.9.1 Definition
Hyponymy is a relation in which the referent of a word is
totally included in the referent of another word. In other
words, hyponymy is the relationship between each of the
hyponyms22
(the “lower” word) and its superordinate23
(the
“higher” word):
cook
grill toast boil fry24
roast bake smoke ………
stir-fry sauteù deep-fry
2.9.2 Distinction between a hyponym and a superordinate
22
Hyponyms are also referred to as subordinates or specific lexical items.
23
Superordinates are also referred to as hyper(o)nyms or generic lexical items.
24
stir-fry = fry (vegetables, meat, etc.) for a short time in very hot oil
while stirring them
sauteù = fry (food like potatoes) quickly in a little fat
deep-fry = fry (food like potatoes) quickly in hot fat that completely covers them

58
A hyponym is a word “whose referent is totally included
in the referent of another word (the prefix hypo- in hyponym
means ‘below’).” [Finegan, 1994: 165]
Accordingly, a superordinate is a word whose referent
covers all the referents of its hyponyms. (The prefix hyper-
in hyper(o)nym means ‘over.’)
Ex1. plant
tree bush (shrub) flowering plant moss grass ………
Hyponyms often exist at more than one level, resulting in
multiple layers of hyponymic relationships:
Ex2. colour
blue red yellow green black ………
turquoise25
aquamarine royal blue
In this case, blue is a word that has a hyponym and a
superordinate at the same time. Since turquoise, aquamarine and
royal blue refer to different shades of blue, these words are
IMMEDIATE hyponyms [Palmer: 1981: 87] of blue. The word
blue in its turn is, along with many other colour terms, an
IMMEDIATE hyponym of colour. We thus obtain a hierarchy of
25
Turquoise = greenish blue; aquamarine = bluish green; royal blue = deep
bright blue

59
terms related to each other through hyponymic relationships.
Similar hierarchies can be established for many lexical fields:
Ex3. physical entity
plant animal rock
fish bird insect bug reptile mammal ………
sparrow hawk crow fowl ……… human animal (beast)
chicken turkey quail ……… dog cat cow ………
Note in this case that the word animal appears on two different
levels. English speakers indeed use the word to refer to at least
two different referents: animals as distinct from plants and rocks,
and animals (generally mammals other than humans) as distinct
from humans.
2.9.3 Hyponymy and inclusion
“HYPONYMY involves us in the notion INCLUSION in the
sense that tulip and rose are included in flower, and lion and
elephant in mammal (or perhaps animal). Similarly, scarlet is
included in red. Inclusion is thus a matter of class
membership. The ‘super’ term is the SUPERORDINATE and the
‘lower’ term is the HYPONYM.” [Palmer, 1981: 85]

60
Exercise 9: Each of the following sentences presents a pair of
words. Which of them is a superordinate and which, a
hyponym?
1. She reads books all day – mostly novels.
2. A crocodile is a reptile.
3. There’s no flower more beautiful than a tulip.
4. He likes all vegetables except carrots.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Exercise 10: Draw a chart to show the relationship between a
superordinate and a hyponym.
1. luggage and suitcase
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
2. green vegetable and bean

61
3. animal and foal
4. animal and child
5. fowl and rooster
6. plant and coconut
7. plant and rose

62
8. vocal organ and tongue tip
9. head and eyelash
10. furniture and dressing table
11. vehicle and convertible
12. vocalize and croon

63
2.10 Synonymy
2.10.1 Definition
Synonymy is a relation in which various words have different
(written and sound) forms but have the same or nearly the
same meaning.
Ex1: The two English verbs hide and conceal are synonyms; they
both mean keep somebody/something from being seen or
known about.
Ex2: The four English nouns kind, type, sort and variety are
synonyms; they all refer to a group having similar
characteristics.
2.10.2 Distinction between true synonymy and
partial synonymy
2.10.2.1 True synonymy
There are few true synonyms in the lexicon of a language.
Ex1. Movie, film, flick26
and motion picture may be considered
as synonyms because they all refer to the same set of referents
in the real world. In other words, they have the same
denotative meaning. However, these lexical items differ in
their connotative meanings: movie may strike you as American
while film may strike you as British or as appropriate for
movie classics or art movies; flick is used chiefly in very
informal contexts whereas motion picture is quaintly
outdated and has connotations as a term from the thirties or
forties of the 20th
century.
26
flick n [C] (dated, informal) cinema film

64
In brief, movie, film, flick and motion picture are not true
synonyms.
Ex2. Fast, quick and rapid may be considered as synonyms
because they may be used interchangeably in reference to
someone’s running speed: He’s a fast/quick/rapid runner.
However; a fast talker, one who is able to get out of trouble
by talking cleverly, is different from a quick talker, one who
usually talks in a rapid manner; some people may lead their
lives in the fast lane, not in the rapid lane or in the quick
lane; he has a quick mind, not a rapid mind or a fast mind; he
gave her a quick glance, not a rapid glance or a fast glance;
and rapid is the usual term when reference is made to a
person’s strides, especially metaphorical strides: Tom has made
rapid strides in his math this term. In brief, fast, quick and
rapid are not true synonyms.
Quite often, words that appear synonymous at first glance
actually refer to slightly different sets of concepts or are used in
different situations. “The fact that there are few true synonyms in
the lexicon of a language reflects the general tendency of language
users to make most of what is available to them. If two terms have the
same referent, the meaning of one of them is usually modified to
express differences in referential, social or affective meaning27
.
Although true synonymy is rare, the notion is useful because it
helps describe similarities between the meanings of different
terms in the lexicon.” [Finegan, 1994: 168]
27
In other words, synonyms usually have different connotations: mother, Mum,
Mom, Mummy, and Mommy.

65
2.10.2.2 Partial synonymy
Partial synonymy is a relation in which a polysemous word
shares one of its meanings with another word.
For example, one meaning of deep is synonymous with
profound in the pair of sentences marked (1)a-b. In other words,
deep and profound can be used interchangeably in (1)a-b. No
such interchange can be found in (2)a-b:
(1)a. You have my deep sympathy.
(1)b. You have my profound sympathy.
(2)a. The river is very deep at this point.
(2)b. *The river is very profound at this point.
Partial synonymy leads to collocations: a bunch of keys, a
herd of sheep, a school of ants, a flock of birds, a group of
teachers, a gang of thieves, etc.
Exercise 11: The following pairs of words are partial synonyms,
i.e. they do not share all their senses. For each pair, (a) gives a
sentence in which the two can be used interchangeably; (b)
gives another sentence in which only one of them can be used.
1. strong/powerful
(a) ________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________
2. ripe/mature
(a) ________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________

66
3. broad/wide
(a) ________________________________________________
(b) _______________________________________________
4. soil/earth
(a) ________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________
5. edge/side
(a) ________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________
6. permit/allow
(a)_________________________________________________
(b)_________________________________________________
Exercise 12: Identify various meanings of each of the two given
polysemous words and then point out which meaning exemplify
partial synonymy.
1. deep
(i) This is a deep well.
(ii) He only gave a deep sigh.
(iii) You have my deep sympathy.
(iv) With his hands deep in his pockets, he went away.
The ________ meaning of deep is synonymous with __________.

67
2. broad
(i) The river is very broad at this point.
(ii) He just gave a broad smile.
(iii) Luckily, my boss is a man of broad views.
(iv) He speaks English with a broad Yorkshire accent.
The _________ meaning of broad is synonymous with ________.
2.11 Antonymy
2.11.1 Definition
Antonymy is a relation in which two words have different
(written and sound) forms and are opposite in meaning.
Ex1: Pass--fail, hot--cold and thinner--fatter are three
pairs of antonyms.
Ex2: True--false, big--small and buy--sell are three pairs of
antonyms.
2.11.2 Classification
2.11.2.1 Binary antonymy28
and gradable antonymy
2.11.2.1.1 Below is probably a common way of telling binary
antonymy from gradable antonymy:
Binary antonymy is a relation in which two members of a pair
of antonyms:
28
Binary antonymy is also referred to as complementary antonymy.

68
(a) are mutually exclusive: not alive is dead and not dead is alive.
(b) cannot be used in a comparative or superlative sense:
*He is more single/more married than his brother.
(c) cannot be used in questions with how to ask about degrees:
*How single/How married is he?
Thus, alive--dead and married--single are two pairs of
binary antonyms.
Gradable antonymy is a relation in which two members of a
pair of antonyms:
(a) are gradable: between hot and cold are three
“intermediate terms” [Palmer, 1981: 95] warm, tepid (or
lukewarm) and cool.
(b) can be used in a comparative or superlative sense: wider is
less narrow, more difficult is less easy, etc.
(c) can be used in questions with how to ask about degrees:
How difficult is the test?29
Thus, hot--cold and difficult--easy are two pairs of
gradable antonyms.
2.11.2.1.2 The distinction between binary antonymy and
gradable antonymy is sometimes blurred by language users. In
English, for example, it is reasonable to assume that whatever is
alive is not dead and that whatever is dead is not alive, and thus
29
How easy is the test? is also possible, but its context is very restricted, e.g. to
show that one can manage to pass the test without any difficulty.

69
that the adjectives dead and alive form a pair of binary antonyms.
However, we do have expressions like half-dead, barely alive,
and more dead than alive, which suggest that, in some contexts,
we see alive and dead as gradable antonyms. Nevertheless, the
distinction between the two types of antonyms is useful in
that it describes an important distinction between two types of
word relationships.
2.11.2.2 Relational antonymy
Two members of a pair of relational antonyms30
display
symmetry in their meaning. The “if…, then …” formula can be
used to test and identify relational antonyms: if Mr. Brown is
Jack’s employer, then Jack is Mr. Brown’s employee; if Jenny is
thinner than Mary, then Mary is fatter than Jenny; if John
bought a car from Fred, then Fred sold a car to John; etc.
Thus, buy--sell, employer--employee, and thinner--fatter
are three pairs of relational antonyms.
Relational antonyms belong to various word classes:
Verbs: buy--sell, give--receive, lend--borrow, import--
export, own--belong to, etc.
Nouns: employer--employee, grandparent--grandchild,
father/mother--son/daughter, fianceù--fianceùe,
parent--child/offspring, professor--student,
teacher--pupil, doctor--patient, debtor--creditor,
landlord/landlady--tenant, husband--wife,
uncle/aunt--nephew/niece, etc.
30
Relational antonyms are also called converses.

70
Comparative adjectives: thinner--fatter, cheaper --
more expensive, greater than--less than, etc.
Comparative adverbs: more efficiently--less efficiently,
faster--more slowly, etc.
Prepositions: above--below, in front of--behind,
over--under, before--after, north of--south of,
west of--east of, etc.
2.11.3 Antonymy and (un)markedness
Words that are in an antonymous relationship often do
not have equal status with respect to markedness. In a pair of
antonyms, one member is more unmarked (or less marked) and
the other is more marked (or less unmarked), e.g. high--low, tall-
-short, heavy--light, far--near, expensive--cheap, hot--cold,
long--short, wide--narrow, deep--shallow, difficult--easy,
married--single, well--badly, etc.
The unmarkedness of one member of any pair of antonyms
enables it to occur in questions of degree like How heavy is it?
(not How light is it?), How tall are you? (not How short are
you?), How deep is the canal? (not How shallow is the canal?),
How expensive is this bracelet? (not How cheap is this bracelet?),
How well can you speak English? (not How badly can you speak
English?), etc.
Similarly, since married is less marked than single, we say we
talk about one’s marital status, and not about one’s single status.

71
Exercise 13: Are the following pairs of words binary antonyms?
(1) chalk--cheese Yes / No (4) dead--alive Yes / No
(2) same--different Yes / No (5)married--unmarried Yes / No
(3) copper--tin Yes / No (6) cheap--expensive Yes / No
Exercise 14: Are the following pairs of words relational
antonyms?
(1) below--above Yes / No (4)grandparent--grandchild Yes / No
(2) love--hate Yes / No (5) greater than--less than Yes / No
(3) conceal--reveal 31
Yes / No (6) own--belong to Yes / No
Exercise 15: Identify the continuous scale of values between the
two given words.
1. love--hate: _________________________________________
2. hot -- cold: _________________________________________
3. big -- small: _________________________________________
4. rich -- poor: ________________________________________
5. none -- all: _________________________________________
6. possibly -- certainly: ________________________________
7. never--always: ______________________________________
31
Conceal sb/sth (from sb/sth) = keep sb/sth from being seen or known about:
- He tried to conceal/did not reveal his heavy drinking from his family.
Reveal sth (to sb) = make sth known (to sb):
- The doctor did not reveal the truth to him/concealed the truth from him.

72
Exercise 16: State whether the following pairs of antonyms are
binary, gradable or relational by writing B (binary), G
(gradable) or R (relational):
1. good--bad: ______________ 9. import--export: ________________________________
2. pass--fail: ______________ 10. better than--worse than: _________________________
3.deciduous--evergreen:_____ 11. easy--difficult: ________________________________
4.expensive—cheap: ________ 12. hot--cold: ________________________________
5.parent--offspring: ________ 13. legal--illegal: ________________________________
6. beautiful--ugly: __________ 14. asleep--awake: ________________________________
7. false--true:______________ 15. rude--polite: ________________________________
8. lessor--lessee: ___________ 16. husband--wife: ________________________________
2.12 Homonymy
2.12.1 Distinction between homonymy, homophony and
homography
2.12.1.1 Homonymy is a relation in which various words have
the same (sound and written) form but have different
meanings.
Ex1: Classified as two homonyms are the noun bank1, which
means a financial institution, and the noun bank2, which
means the shore of a river; both being pronounced /b`7k/ in
RP32
.
32
Received Pronunciation (usually abbreviated to RP) “is most familiar as the
accent used by most announcers and newsreaders on serious national and
international BBC broadcasting channels.” Also, it “is often most recommended
for foreign learners studying British English.” [Roach, 1991: 4]

73
Ex2: Classified as three homonyms are the noun bear, which refers to
a large heavy animal with thick fur, the verb bear1, which
means give birth to, and the verb bear2, which means tolerate;
all being pronounced /be6(r)/ in RP.
2.12.1.2 Homophony is a relation in which various words have
the same sound form33
but have different meanings and
written forms.
Ex1: Classified as two homophones are the noun hour, which
means a twenty-fourth part of a day and night, and the
possessive adjective our, which means belonging to us; both
being pronounced /aυ6(r)/ in RP.
Ex2: Classified as two homophones are the noun place, which
means a particular area or position in space, and the noun
plaice, which means a type of fish; both being pronounced
/ple1s/ in RP.
2.12.1.3 Homography is a relation in which various words
have the same written form34
but have different meanings
and sound forms.
Ex1: Classified as two homographs are the verb lead /li:d/ in Does
this road lead to town and the noun lead /led/ in Lead is a
heavy metal.
Ex2: Classified as two homographs are the bare infinitive form
read /ri:d/ and the past tense form read /red/.
33
also referred to as pronunciation
34
also referred to as spelling

74
2.12.2 Homophones as a distinct type of homonyms
“The terminological relationship between homonymy,
homography, and homophony is not entirely clear. For instance,
homophones that are not homographs are sometimes
classified as a distinct type of homonyms, but the formal identity
of homonyms may also be defined so strictly as to exclude non-
homographic homophones from the class of homonyms (at least
for those languages that have written records). The very fact that
homonyms are different words (i.e., that they are distinct entities in
the lexicon) implies that they are semantically distinct.” [Asher
and Simpson, 1994: 1595]
Consider the following table and identify antonymy,
synonymy, homonymy, homophony, and homography via their
main features.
Written form Sound form Meaning
antonymy −−−− −−−− −−−−
synonymy −−−− −−−− +
homonymy + + −−−−
homophony −−−− + −−−−
homography + −−−− −−−−
+ : the same or nearly the same;
−−−− : different or opposite

75
Among a number of linguists who regard non-homographic
homophones as a distinct type of homonyms are Fromkin and
Rodman [1993: 129]: “Homonyms are different words that are
pronounced the same, but may or may not spelled the same. To,
two and too are homonyms because they are pronounced the
same, despite their spelling differences.”
These authors and many others may require homonymy re-
defined:
Homonymy is a sense relation in which various words are
written the same way and/or sound alike but have different
meanings, e.g. feat (strength or courage) and feet (plural of
foot), know (have something in one’s mind) and no (not any), row
(a quarrel) and row (a line), wound (an injury) and wound (past of
wind), etc.
Exercise 17: Give the phonemic transcription shared by two
members of each of the given pairs of words to identify
them as a pair of homophones:
The first one is done as an example.
1. altar /‘0:lt6(r)/ alter 11. herd __________ heard
2. beech __________ beach 12. knight _________ night
3. boar ___________ bore 13. nose __________ knows
4. coarse _________ course 14. leek ____________ leak
5. crews ___________ cruise 15. maid ___________ made
6. deer ____________ dear 16. pail _____________ pale
7. draft ___________ draught 17. reign ___________ rain

76
8. fare ____________fair 18. scene __________ seen
9. flour ___________ flower 19. thrown ________throne
10. grate _________ great 20. whole ___________ hole
Exercise 18: Give the phonemic transcription shared be two
members of each of the given pairs of words to identify
them as a pair of homonyms: The italic words in bracket are
to clarify the meaning in question of the given words.
1. lie1 (meaning tell lies)
lie 2 (meaning put one’s body on a horizontal surface)
Classified as two homonyms are the verb lie1, which means
tell lies, and the verb lie2, which means put one’s body
on a horizontal surface; both being pronounced /la1/ in
RP.
2. bat (meaning a tool for hitting in baseball)
bat (meaning the small mouse-like animal that flies at night and
feeds on fruit and insects)
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3. too (meaning more than should be)
too (meaning also)
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

77
4. might (meaning great strength or power)
might (expressing possibility)
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
5. bare (meaning without the usual covering or protection)
bare (meaning uncover or reveal something)
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
6. sound (meaning thing that can be heard)
sound (meaning healthy or in good condition)
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
7. lead (as in Does this road lead to town)
lead (as in He’s the chief trouble-maker; the others just follow his
lead)
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Exercise 19: What is the relationship between the words in the
following pairs? If the words are antonyms, specify what kind
of antonyms they are. The italic words in bracket are to clarify
the meaning in question of the given words.

78
1. true -- false: binary antonymy
2. gloom -- darkness: __________________
3. dark (as in a dark room) -- dark (as in Don’t look on the dark
side of things): __________________
4. wind (as in The wind is blowing hard) -- wind (as in wind one’s
watch): __________________
5. deny -- admit: __________________
6. host -- guest: __________________
7. sow (as in sow a field with wheat) -- sow (meaning a female
pig): __________________
8. pupil (at a school) -- pupil (of an eye): __________________
9. cheap -- expensive: __________________
10. coarse -- course: __________________
2.13 Polysemy
2.13.1 Definition
Polysemy is a relation in which a single word has two or more
slightly different but closely related meanings.
Ex1: The noun chip has the three following meanings:
(i) a small piece of some hard substance which has been
broken off from something larger: a chip of wood/glass.

79
(ii) a small cut piece of potato which is fried for eating: Can I
try one of your chips?
(iii) a small but vital piece of a computer: This computer has
got a faster chip than the old one.
The three meanings are closely related because they all
contain the semantic feature [+small piece].
Ex2: The verb break has the two following meanings:
(i) separate into two or more parts as a result of force
or strain (but not cutting): He broke that cup.
(ii) become unusable by being damaged; make (something)
unusable by damaging: My watch is broken.
The two meanings are closely related because both contain the
semantic feature [+can no longer be used].
2.13.2 Distinction between polysemy and homonymy
A well-known problem in semantics is how to decide whether
we are dealing with a single polysemous word (like plain) or with
two or more homonyms (like port1, as in The ship left port, and
port2, as in He drank port). In other words, how do you know
when you have separate lexical items rather than a single word
with different meanings?
Using SPELLING as a criterion is misleading: many sets of
words are obviously distinct but have the same spelling as, for
example, the noun sound meaning noise and the adjective sound
meaning healthy, or the noun bank1 meaning financial institution
and the noun bank2 meaning shore of a river.

80
One modestly reliable criterion is the word’s ETYMOLOGY,
or historical origin. Take as an example the two English words
which derive from different Anglo-Saxon roots: bank1 meaning
financial institution is an early borrowing from French while bank2
meaning shore of a river has a Scandinavian origin.
The various ANTONYMS and SYNONYMS of a word provide
a different kind of criterion that can be useful in distinguishing
between HOMONYMY and POLYSEMY. Since the two senses of
plain, which are (1) clear or easy and (2) undecorated, share a
synonym in simple and an antonym in complex. This fact suggests
that they are indeed two meanings of one and the same
POLYSEMIC word. No such shared synonym or antonym can be
identified for the two meanings of sound, which is, by chance, the
form of two different words, sound1 and sound2, which have the
same spelling and thus, also sound alike.
Another interesting question is whether there is any
COMMONALITY between the different meanings of what
appears to be the same word. The two meanings of plain can be
characterized as devoid of complexity, which suggests that they are
related, but no such description exists for bank1 and bank2. Thus
plain in these two senses is POLYSEMIC, while the two senses of
bank reflect HOMONYMIC lexical items.
There is no doubt that it is often difficult to decide whether a
particular pair of look-alike and sound-alike word forms are
two separate homonymous words or simply a polysemic word
with different meanings. Though HOMONYMY and
POLYSEMY can be distinguished as different notions, the
boundary between them is not clear-cut.

81
Also notice that homonyms like bank1 and bank2, port1 and
port2, sound1 and sound2, etc. are treated in distinct dictionary
entries whereas two or more closely related meanings of the
polysemous word foot, chip, or plain are linked together within
only one dictionary entry.
2.14 Ambiguity
2.14.1 Structural ambiguity
A sentence is considered as structurally ambiguous when its
structure permits more than one interpretation.
For example, we can consider the prepositional phrase with
binoculars in We watched the hunters with binoculars either as
an adjectival to be the post-nominal modifier of the noun phrase
the hunters or as an adverbial to be the optional adjunct of means
of the verb watched.
S S
NP1 VP NP1 VP1
Pro Vgrp NP2 Pro VP2 AdvP
[mono-trans] [dO] [opA of Means]
Vgrp NP2
NP3 AdjP [mono-trans] [dO] PP
We watched the hunters with binoculars. We watched the hunters with binoculars.

82
2.14.2 Lexical ambiguity
Any ambiguity resulting from the ambiguity of a word is
lexical ambiguity.
Ex1. We can interpret the sentence They were waiting at the bank
in two different ways because the two nouns bank — bank1,
which means financial institution and bank2, which means
shore of the river — are two homonyms.
Ex2. We can interpret the sentence That robot is bright in two
different ways because the adjective bright is a polysemous
word which has two slightly different but closely related
meanings: shining and intelligent.
Thus, both polysemy and homonymy contribute to lexical
ambiguity.
Exercise 20: Explain the lexical ambiguity in each of the
following sentences by providing two sentences that
paraphrase its two different meanings.
1. They were waiting at the bank.
Meaning one: They were waiting at the financial institution.
Meaning two: They were waiting at the shore of the river.
2. The long drill is boring.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________

83
3. When he got the clear title to the land, it was a good deed.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
4. The proprietor of the fish store was the sole owner.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
5. We like the ball.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
6. They passed the port at night.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
7. The captain corrected the list.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
8. He was knocked over by the punch.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
9. The camel swallowed the chocolate and then ate it.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________

84
Exercise 21: Does polysemy or homonymy contribute to the lexical
ambiguity in each of the two given sentences.
(1) She cannot bear children.
(2) The cat sat on the mat.
________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Exercise 22: In what way are homonyms related to lexical
ambiguity?
________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Exercise 23: In what way is a polysemous word related to lexical
ambiguity?
________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

85
Exercise 24: Explain the structural ambiguity in each of the
following sentences:
1. The drunkard visitor
rolled up the carpet.
6. They are cooking bananas.
2. Is he really that kind? 7. They are moving sidewalks.
3. My fianceùe is reserved. 8. John
loves Richard more than Martha.
4. I saw her slip. 9. Old men and women
will be served first.
5. I saw her duck. 10. The thing that bothered Bill
was crouching under the table.
1(a) The drunkard visitor
1(b) The drunkard visitor
2(a) Is he really that kind? 2(b) Is he really that kind?
3 (a) My fianceùe is reserved. 3(b) My fianceùe is reserved.

86
4(a) I saw her slip. 4(b) I saw her slip.
5(a) We saw her duck. 5(b) We saw her duck.
6(a) They are cooking bananas. 6(b) They are cooking bananas.
7(a) They are moving sidewalks. 7(b) They are moving sidewalks.
8(a) John loves Richard
more than Martha.
8(b) John loves Richard
more than Martha.

87
9(a) Old men and women
9(b) Old men and women
10(a) The thing that bothered Bill
was crouching under the table.
10(b)ThethingthatbotheredBill
wascrouchingunderthetable.
2.15 Anomaly
2.15.1 Definition
Anomaly is “a violation of semantic rules to create
nonsense.” [Finegan, 1993: 148]
Ex1. That bachelor is pregnant is semantically anomalous because
bachelor is [+male] whereas pregnant is [+female].
Ex2. My brother is the only child in the family is an English
sentence that is grammatically correct and syntactically
perfect; however, it is semantically anomalous because it
represents a contradiction. The meaning of brother includes
the semantic feature [+having at least one sibling] whereas
the only child in the family is [+having no other sibling].

88
2.15.2 Anomaly and contradiction
Anomaly involves us in the notion contradiction in the sense that
semantically anomalous sentences constitute a type of
contradictory sentences. For example, John killed Bill, who
remained alive for many years after is semantically anomalous
because the so-called sentence represents a contradiction: no living
organism can remain alive after being killed. In fact, Bill died right at
the moment John killed him.
Exercise 25: Explain the anomaly of each of the following
sentences.
1. Christopher is killing phonemes.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2. My brother is a spinster.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3. The boy swallowed the chocolate and then chewed it.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
4. Babies can lift one ton.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

89
5. Puppies are human.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
6. My unmarried sister is married to a bachelor.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
7. The bigger key and John opened the door.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
8. James sliced the ideas.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
9. Jack’s courage chewed the bones.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
10. I hear the cloud.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
11. The tiger remained alive for an hour after the hunter killed it.

90
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Exercise 26: How can each of the given sentences be changed to
avoid anomaly?
1. ____________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________
7. ____________________________________________________
8. ____________________________________________________
9. ____________________________________________________
10. ___________________________________________________
11. __________________________________________________

Semantics Session 1 Word meaning reading material

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Semantics Session 1 Word meaning reading material