LI 2013 NATHALIE F. MARTIN S EMANTICS. Bibliography / References Primary Reference and reading: Contemporary Linguistic Analysis (O’Grady & Archibald,

LI 2013 NATHALIE F. MARTIN

SEMANTICS

Bibliography / References

Primary Reference and reading: Contemporary Linguistic Analysis (O’Grady &

Archibald, 2009, p. 190-207)

Reading: Ambiguity in College Writing (Stageberb, Norman C.,

in Linguistics at Work: A Reader of Application, by Dallin D. Oaks, 1998)

Secondary Reference (for information only): A Concise Introduction to Linguistics (Rowe & Levine,

2009; 153-173)

Table of Content

Introduction: Ambiguity (review of text) Concept, Referent and Form Semantics Meaning Semantic Relations Among Words

The –NYMS

Meaning of Phrases and Sentences Meaning of Words

Through Time

Review of the text: Ambiguity in College Writing (Stageberb, Norman C.,

in Linguistics at Work: A Reader of Application, by Dallin D. Oaks, 1998)

Ambiguity

Multiple Meanings

______________ E.g. For many purposes they used obsidian or volcanic

rock.

______________ E.g. a fat lady’s man

______________ E.g. Many hands make light work. (in given example)

______________ E.g. I am an outdoor lover.

“Out-of-doors lover” … or … ?

Ambiguity in College Writing (Stageberb)

What Ambiguity?Lexical ambiguity?Syntactic

ambiguity?Class ambiguity?Script ambiguity?

















PRELIMINARY THEORY TO SEMANTICS

THE ABSTRACT SIDE OF LANGUAGE

Concept, Referent and Form

Referent: the actual thing

Referent, Concept and Symbol

Qu’est-ce que le langage? (Leclerc)

[bərd][bərd]


Qu’est-ce que le langage? (Leclerc)Ferdinand de Saussure

[bərd]

The __________ refers to the linguistic elements (word, sentence, etc.), the __________ refers to the object in the world of experience, and THOUGHT or REFERENCE refers to __________ .



Referent

Concept

Refers to

Symbol

evokes

Stands for

There is not a direct link between the sound of the word dog (Symbol) and the object it refers to.

What is called the signified is not actually what we have been shown but an abstract concept formed in our mind.

Ogden & Richards

no direct relationship

Romeo and Juliette (Shakespeare)• Juliet:

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,Nor arm, nor face, nor any other partBelonging to a man. O, be some other name!

WHAT'S IN A NAME? THAT WHICH WE CALL A ROSEWHAT'S IN A NAME? THAT WHICH WE CALL A ROSEBY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD SMELL AS SWEET;BY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD SMELL AS SWEET;

So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,Retain that dear perfection which he owesWithout that title. Romeo, doff thy name,And for that name which is no part of theeTake all myself

Review: The Psychic Side of Things

SYMBOL CONCEPTSounds bərd]

-__________ __________ of the sound

-« acoustique image » (sound pattern)

-A string of phonemes (sounds)-Psychic imprint

- We reffer to this mental imprint to understand when

someone speaks

-Common to speakers of that language (therefore

conventional)

Concept (__________ __________ of

reality)-Psychic

-Mental image of the referent

- Ex: covered in feathers, has a bec, etc.

Ferdinand de Saussure

Concepts Across Languages

Semantics

Definition: Semantics

Semantics is the study of the __________ of linguistic expressions, such as morphemes, words, phrases, clauses, and sentences.

What is the Meaning of This?

ColdOldFineCoolFly

BehindAccentNobodyThisGetting in

touch

CONTEXT is Key !

– Certain aspects of meaning change with the __________ __________

Nobody bought milk (store owner vs. room mates) X is old: “old” means different things depending on

what X is (person, food, currency, place, friend…)

Context is therefore very important!!

Semantics

Two types of semantics:1. __________ __________ : meaning of words2. __________ __________ : meaning of

utterances larger than words

FIVE APPROACHES TO MEANING:

1. Connotation2. Denotation3. Extension and intention4. Componential Analysis5. Subcategorization of verbs6. Actantial Approach

Meaning

What does it mean when you say you know the meaning of a word?

What does it mean when you say you know a word, such as “bird” “blue”, or “happy” ?

How do we __________ of a word meaning?

What is “word meaning”?

1. Connotation

« Set of associations that a word’s use can evoke »

e.g. winter

According to __________ __________ …To equate meaning to a word or phrase with actual entities to which it refers

e.g.

* But what about __________ things that have no referents !!!

2. Denotation

____ referents for one thing the same thing

e.g. Paul Martin:

Denotation

3. Extension versus intention

ALSO CALLED:COMPONENTIAL ANALYSIS

OR SEMANTIC DECOMPOSITION

4. Componential Analysis

Componential Analysis

Semantic properties: The __________ of meaning of a word.

Semantic feature: A notational device for expressing the __________ or __________ of semantic properties by “+” and “-”.

Example of componential analysis:“baby” is [+ young], [+ human],

[– abstract].

Contemporary Linguistics Analysis: p.

196


1. (a) widow, mother, sister, aunt, maid (b) widower, father, brother, uncle, valet

The (a) and (b) words are The (a) words are The (b) words are

[ human][ female][ male]

2. (a) bachelor, paperboy, pope, chief (b) bull, rooster, drake, ram


[ male][ human][ animal]


3. (a) table, stone, pencil, cup, house, ship (b) milk, alcohol, rice, soup, mud

The (a) words are The (b) words are

[ count][ count]

4. (a) pine, elm, sycamore (b) dandelion, aster, daisy


[ plant][ tree]

[ flower]


SWINE

Definition: an adult female swine; also : the adult female

of various other animals (as a bear) http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Semantic Analysis: [ animal], [ swine], [ male] or

[ female]


CAR

Definition: A vehicle moving on wheels

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Semantic Analysis: [ vehicle], [ motorized], [ 4

wheels] …


BUTTERFLYDefinition: any of numerous slender-bodied diurnal lepidopteran

insects including one superfamily (Papilionoidea) with broad often brightly colored wings and usually another superfamily comprising the skippers

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Semantic Analysis: [+ ], [+ ], [-

] …

2 COMPLEMENTS:2 COMPLEMENTS: NO COMPLEMENT:NO COMPLEMENT:Fax MurmurRadio MumbleWire MutterPhone Shriek

Emphasis on: Emphasis on:- __________ ____ - __________ ______

So there’s a link between _________and __________!!!

5. Subcategorization of verbs

In defining verbs we should also describe their __________ and the __________ : A1 tosses A2 to A3:

A1 = [+ human] A2 = [+ concrete], [+ movable], [+ small] A3 = [± human] or [+ living/moving], [+ with hands] …

* Again, this is a combination of _______ and _________!

6. Actantial Approach

THE –NYMS: 1.HYPONYM, HYPERNYM AND COHYPONYM2.SYNONYM AND PARASYNONYMS3.ANTONYMS4.POLYSEMY5.HOMONYM

1. Homonyms2. Homophone3. Homographs

Semantic Relations Among Words

Hyponyms and hypernyms Hyponymy: Words whose meanings are __________ instances

of a more general word, e.g. isosceles and equilateral are hyponyms of the word triangle.

Hyponyms and cohyponyms

Let’s organize these words: Dance (verb) Salsa Exercice Tango

1. Hyponyms(Semantic Relations among Words)

2. Synonyms(Semantic Relations among Words)

Synonymy: words that have the _______ meanings, e.g. start & begin.

Synonyms or Parasynonyms?

oVacation = holidaysoYouth = adolescentoRemember = recalloPurchase = buyoBig = large

Synonyms & Parasynonyms

Pride and Prejudice, a screenplay by Deborah Moggach The danger of parasynonyms and over-extension Chapter 3 : 20 minutes into the movie

Odious Long Dote one her In raptures Accomplished

a. GRADABLE VS UNGRADABLEb. CONVERSEc. REVERSIVES

3. Antonyms

Antonymy: words that are __________ in meanings, e.g. hot & cold.

Synonymy or Antonymy Flourish – thrive Intelligent – stupid Casual – informal Flog – whip Drunk – sober

a. synonym

b. antonym

c. synonym

d. synonym

e. antonym

Antonyms vs Synonyms

a. Gradable/ungradable antonyms

Grading involves __________ . When we compare two or more objects.

Do the objects have the property to the same ______or not:

- +… cold cool warm hot …

Gradable: “colder”The weather is much colder this week than last week.

Ungradable: “male”٭John is as much male as Peter. .John is more male than Peter٭

a. Gradable/ungradable antonyms (continued)

Exception:Normal language behavior: ungradable antonyms

can sometimes be graded in speech. The reasons for it are pragmatic.

Example John is more of a bachelor than Daniel (i.e. more

determined never to get married, partying, had never had a stable girlfriend, etc.)

I am more alive now than ever (i.e. feeling more energetic, satisfied with my life, etc).

b. Conversives

There is a __________ ___ between both Without one you don’t have the other:

Examples: o Husband – wifeo Doctor – patiento Master – mistresso Before - aftero Above – below, etc.

Often used to speak of __________ social roles, __________ and __________ relations.

c. Reversives

Another term: __________ __________ . Examples of directional opposites include:

Examples: o Up - downo Come - goo Arrive – depart

Common feature: implication of _________in one of the two opposite directions __________ __________ .

Antonyms (review)

Gradable vs Ungradable? Converse? Reversives?

4. PolysemySemantic Relations among Words

Polysemy: A word which has ___or more __________ meanings e.g. bright: ‘bright light’ ; ‘bright colors’

5. Homonymy Semantic Relations among Words

Homonymy: A word which has ________or more __________ __________ meanings e.g. club: ‘a social organization’ ; ‘a blunt weapon’.

Identifying Homonyms in Jokes

1. Time flies _____an arrow Fruit flies _____ a banana

2. Policeman: Why have you parked your car here?

Motorist: Because the sign says “ for Parking”.

3. Customer: Have you got half-inch ?

Ironmonger: Yes, sir.

Customer: Then could you scratch my back. It’s very itchy

Homonymy or Polysemy ?

Homonymy or Polysemy ?

Polysemy & Homonymy ?

Homonyms, Homophony & Homography

Homophony: Different words ______________ but ____________________ , e.g. two and too.

Homography: Different words __________ but __________________ e.g. minute and minute.

HomonymsHomonyms are words that are homophones and homographs.

Identifying homophones

1. [steər] 1. Stair, stare

2. [weist] 2. waste, waist

3. [si:lIη] 3. sealing, ceiling

4. [kju:] 4. cue, queue

5. [sent] 5. sent, cent, scent

1.Read

2.Wind

3.Live

4.Tear

5.Invalid

6.Bow

7.Dove

Identifying Homographs

Semantic Relations: Phrases and Sentences

STRUCTURAL SEMANTICS:

•CONTRADICTIONS•OXYMORONS•ANOMALOUS UTTERANCES•METAPHORS•IDIOMS•ETC.

Paraphrase

Paraphrase: __________ that can have the _____ meaning.a. The police chased the burglar & The burglar was chased by the police.b. Paul bought a car from Sue & Sue sold a car to Paul

Entailment

Entailment: a relation in which the of one sentence necessarily the of another.

Examples of asymmetrical entailment.a. The park wardens killed the tiger. & The tiger is dead.b. Robin is a man & Robin is human

Contradiction

Contradiction: When two sentences __________ __________ .

a. Charles is a bachelor. b. Charles is married.

Metaphor and Metonymy

All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players They have their exits and their entrances

The White House said ...The pen is mightier than the sword

Metaphor: The understanding of one concept __________ of another

Happy or Sad?1. I’m feeling up Happy

2. Her spirits sank Sad

3. That boosted my spirits Happy

4. The height of ecstacy Happy

5. The depths of misery Sad

6. He fell into a depression Sad

Emotions: Happy is Up; Sad is down

Synecdoche, Allegory, Hyperbole

Synecdoche Part for whole:

head for cattle Whole for part:

the police, the Pentagon Species for genus:

kleenex Genus for species:

PC

IdiomsIdioms

Two central features of idioms:Two central features of idioms:

1.1. The meaning of the idiomatic The meaning of the idiomatic expression cannot be deduced by expression cannot be deduced by the examining the the examining the ________________ ..

2.2. The expression is The expression is both both grammatically and lexically.grammatically and lexically.

For example:For example:

Put a sock in itPut a sock in it = ‘stop talking’ = ‘stop talking’

Can you identify the meanings of the following idioms?

1. Ring a bell.It sounds familiar to you / You have heard it before

2. By word of mouth. In a spoken form.

3. On the house. Free for the customers.

4. Hot spota. A place of political danger.b. A lively nightclub.c. An area on the screen which can be clicked on

to start an operation such as loading a file.d. An area where you can get connected to the

Internet through a wireless network.

Cross-Cultural Misunderstanding of Idioms

Can’t translate from language to another: « Foot in your mouth » vs. « Doigt dans l’œil »

Sometimes leads to misunderstanding:

Compound Words

Compound words are treated as having one __________ and is not necessarily the adding together of the two individual meanings of the two words.

Ex: « High chair » « tooth brush »

Meaning of Words Through Time

Neologism (or Coinage)

Neologism (or Coinage)

Using derivation:

Evolution of Meaning

Language Changes a lot, not just in adding new words here and there, but also as the meaning of these words change with time.

o « Cool » used to mean « not warm/cold ». Then the meaning changed.

o Now, « cool », is not really that « cool » anymore !

Evolution of Extension

BARRER (Acadian French): - Blocked river- Block road- Block door (locked)

This is how you get __________

Evolution of Extension

Documents

LI 2013 NATHALIE F. MARTIN S EMANTICS. Bibliography / References Primary Reference and reading: Contemporary Linguistic Analysis (O’Grady & Archibald,