Word meanings

Contents:
1. Meaning & Semantics
2. Semantic components
3. Semantic structures
4. Polysemy & Polyseme
5. Transference & its main types
6. Metaphor & its features
7. Metonymy & its features
8. Generalization
9. Specialization
10. Degradation
11. Elevation
 What is meaning?

1. Meaning can be more or less seen as a

component of the word through which a
concept (mental phenomena) is communicated
Definitions thus, providing the word with the ability of
denoting real objects, qualities, actions, and
abstract notions, etc.
(Nguyen Manh Hung, 2014)

2. In linguistics, meaning is the information or

concepts that a sender intends to convey, or
does convey, in communication with a receiver.
(Wikipedia)
 Conceptions of meaning

Three main conceptions of meaning:

1. Words  things
2. Words  concepts  things
3. Stimuli  word  responses

(Nguyen Manh Hung, 2014)

 Three main conceptions of meaning (cont.)

1. Words  things
 Three main conceptions of meaning (cont.)
2. Words  concepts  things

Thought or reference

--------------------
Symbol Referent
“Semiotic triangle”
(Ogden & Richards, 1952)
 Three main conceptions of meaning (cont.)
3. Stimuli  words  responses
Meaning is something that can be deduced solely from a study of the
situation in which speech is used – the stimuli (S) that led someone to
speak (r), and the response (R) that resulted from this speech (s).

S ----------------- r ………s --------------- R

(Bloomfield, 1993)
 2 main types of meanings in words
1. Lexical meaning (L.M): is the
realization of concept or
emotion.

2. Grammatical meaning (G.M):

is what unites words with
different lexical meanings. It is
the meaning recurrent in
identical sets of different words.
It divides words into groups
with their own grammatical
features.

3. E.g.: house
 2 main types of meanings in words

1. Lexical meaning (L.M)

2. Grammatical meaning (G.M)
 What is semantics?

1. Semantics comes from the Greek word ‘seme’ meaning

‘sign’.
2. The term ‘semantics’ was not widely used until the 20th
century.
3. ‘Semantics’ is the study of meaning in language.
(Nguyen Manh Hung, 2014)
 Components of lexical meaning
(Semantic components)

1. Denotative meaning (denotation): refers to the literal meaning

of a word, the ‘dictionary definition’.
2. Connotative meaning (connotation): refers to the associations
that are connected to a certain word or the emotional suggestions
or all the implications related to that word.
 Semantic structures

Semantic structures refer to different layers of meanings of

the word.
- 1st layer: different meanings
- 2nd layer: different semantic components in each
type of meaning.

(Nguyen Manh Hung, 2014)

 The analysis of semantic structures
1. With polysemantic word: the analysis must be implemented at 2
levels:
- of different meanings;
- of semantic components within each separate meaning.

2. With monosemantic word (word with 1 meaning): only use the 2nd
level.

(Nguyen Manh Hung, 2014)

 Semantic structures

dull

boring uninteresting stupid not bright

deficient in deficient in deficient in

interest intellect light or color

(Nguyen Manh Hung, 2014)

 Polysemy vs. Polyseme
1. Polysemy is the existence of several language
connected meanings within a word as the result
of the development or changes of the original
meaning.
Polysemy results in polyseme.
Definitions
2. Polyseme is a type of word / phrase with
multiple, related meanings.
E.g.:
mouth

(Nguyen Manh Hung, 2014)

 Process of development of a new meaning
A change of meaning = Transference  New meaning

Development & Changes of new meanings

Main types
(basing on logical Further types
associations)
(Transference)

Generalization

Specialization

Degradation
Metaphor Metonymy

Elevation
 Types of transference
1. Transference based on resemblance (Metaphor): A type of
figurative language in which 1 thing is described in terms of some other
thing.
Resemblance = Similarity
E.g.:
 Metaphor & its features

 Metaphor is the transference of names based on the

association of similarity.
 Types of similarities
1.The similarity of shape

2.The similarity of position

3.The similarity of function

4.The similarity of movement

5.The similarity of color

6.The similarity of size

7.The similarity of behavior or characters

 Sources for metaphor
1. Names of human’s body parts

2. Names of animals

3. Proper names

4. Transference of space relations on mental concept

 Metaphor & Simile

Similarity Difference

Metaphor

Simile
 Types of transference

2. Transference based on contiguity (Metonymy): A type of

figurative language in which the name of 1 thing is replaced with
another commonly associated with it.
Contiguity = Relatedness
E.g.:

The White House supports the bills.

 Metonymy & its features

 Metonymy is the transference of name based on the association of

contiguity.
 The name of one thing is changed for that of another to
which it is related.
I can drink another glass.
Types of relations

1. Relation bet. containers & things contained

2. Relation bet. names of body parts & symbols

3. Relation bet. proper names & common names

4. Relation bet. geographical names & the products

5. Relation bet. names of inventors & names of inventions

 Types of relations (cont.)
6. Relation bet. names of separate parts & a whole thing or vice versa

7. Relation bet. names of the notion & symbols

8. Relation bet. names of the place & the people there

9. Relation bet. names of material & the products made of them

 Development & Change of new meanings
(Further types)

1. Generalization (Extension)
2. Specialization (Narrowing)
3. Degradation (Pejoration)
4. Elevation (Amelioration)
 Generalization (Extension)
1. Def.:
“Generalization is the existence of semantic capacity of a word in
its historical development process.”
2. E.g.:
bird (a young bird)
 Specialization (Narrowing)
1. Def.
“Specialization is the restriction of semantic capacity of a word in
its historical development process.”
2. E.g.:
girl (a young person)
Degradation (Pejoration/Degeneration)

1. Def.:
“Degradation is the acquisition of less pleasant or less emotive
meaning of a word in its historical development process.”
2. E.g.:
notorious
 Elevation (Amelioration)

1. Def.:
“Elevation is the acquisition of more pleasant or less emotive meaning
of a word in its historical development process.”
2. E.g.:
nice