Antonymy

OUTLINE

01 02
Theoretical background Practical implications
1.1. Definition of Antonym

• Defined as a word that means the opposite of another word

(Cambridge Dictionary)

• Defined as sense relation that exists between words which are

opposite in meaning.(Richard Nordquist,2019)

→ Traditional view of antonym is only focus on oppositeness

of meaning: not adequate.

 A word having a meaning opposite to that of another,

it's equal in breath and range of application (Egan,1968 )
 Satisfy definition
1.1. Definition of Antonym

Example: A pair of word tall/short

• He is tall (1)
• His brother is short (2)
• Mary is tall (3)
• That is a short book (4)

 (1) and (2) tall and short are antonyms

 (3) and (4), tall and short are not antonyms

02
The classification of Antonymy

Gradable Antonyms

Binary Antonyms

Converses
2.1. Gradable Antonyms

 The members of a pair differ

in terms of degree

 Graded against different

norms

 One member of a pair,

 If they are at opposite usually the term for the
 “The exam today is not
ends of a continuous scale higher degree, serves as the
easy.”
of values cover term
 “The exam is not difficult”
 Can be measured and
compared

 Deal with the level of

word

Definition Example Characteristic

2.2. Binary Antonyms

Definition Example Characteristic

 The binary antonyms share a semantic field
 Predicates which come in pairs “If dead is existing, then one is not alive”
and between exhaust all the pass and fail
 The norm is absolute
relevant possibilities Male and female is the same criteria when we
If you pass a test, then you can not refer to the human beings and the animals.

 If something is A, then it is not fail it. If you fail, you can not pass
 There is no cover term
B
2.3. Converses
Definition
 Mentioned in the opposite
order, then the two predicates
are converses of each other
 Relationship between two
things
Example
 “A is the wife of B” and “B is the
husband of A”
→ Wife-husband: converses
 Buy-Sell, Lend-Borrow
Characteristic
 There have the relation between them
 One exists only because the other does .
E.g: Child & parent
 The members of a pair do not constitute a
positive-negative opposition
“X buys something from Y” & “Y sells
something to X”
 We can not talk about A without B
03
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
3.1 Antonymy used in literature works
3.2 Antonymy used in speeches
3.3 Antonymy used in proverbs
 3.1. Antonymy used in literature works
It makes the works artistically charming and powerfully
convincing

Example:
Here's much to do with hate, but more with love.
Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate!
O any thing, of nothing first created!
O heavy lightness! serious vanity!
Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
This love feel I, that feel no love in this.
Dost thou not laugh?
(Romeo & Juliet - William Shakespeare)
Example:
“...Xuân đang tới, nghĩa là xuân đang qua
Xuân còn non, nghĩa là xuân sẽ già
Mà xuân hết, nghĩa là tôi cũng mất
Lòng tôi rộng, nhưng lượng trời cứ chật
Không cho dài thời trẻ của nhân gian…”
( Vội vàng - Xuân Diệu)
3.2 Antonymy used in speeches

 Express a strong and clear point of view and helps

to increase persuasion

 Help speaker justify their positions and influence

the public opinion
 Example

“It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and

poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino,
Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not
disabled — Americans who sent a message to the
world that we have never been a collection of red states
and blue states; we are, and always will be, the United
States of America.”
(Barack Obama’s first victory speech, 2008)
 “..Bất kỳ đàn ông, đàn bà, bất kỳ người già, người trẻ,
không chia tôn giáo, đảng phái, dân tộc. Hễ là người Việt
Nam thì phải đứng lên đánh thực dân Pháp để cứu Tổ
quốc. Ai có súng dùng súng. Ai có gươm dùng gươm,
không có gươm thì dùng cuốc, thuổng, gậy gộc. Ai cũng
phải ra sức chống thực dân Pháp cứu nước…”

(Lời kêu gọi Toàn quốc kháng chiến –

Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh 19/12/1946)
3.3 Antonymy used in proverbs
Proverb: a short statement, usually known by many people for a long time, that
gives advice or expresses some common truth
(Cambridge Dictionary)
3.3 Antonymy used in proverbs
When antonyms are used in proverbs, the rhetorical effect of
phonological harmony, formal beauty and conciseness are achieved.
Example:

“Fire is a good servant but “ Ăn cỗ đi trước, lội nước

a bad master” theo sau”
“Two wrongs don't make a “ Bán anh em xa, mua láng
right.” giềng gần”
“Where one door shuts, “ Có mới nới cũ”
another opens”
 References

References
Alkhuli, M. A. (2002). An introduction to Semantics (2008 ed.). DAR ALFALAH.
Retrieved from
https://books.google.com.vn/books?id=VstNDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&d
q=The%20relation%20between%20Antonyms%20and%20Contradictoriness&sourc
e=bl&ots=-bhEbOs6pt&sig=ACfU3U2IGnCfTuepGn-c-f3TbsjxB1-Ugw&hl=vi&sa
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Gao, C., & Zheng, Q. (2014). A Linguistic Study of Antonymy in English Texts. Journal
of Language Teaching and Research, 234-238. Retrieved from
http://www.academypublication.com/issues/past/jltr/vol05/01/29.pdf
Gjergo, A. S. and Delija, S. (2014). The Role and Function of Antonyms in Language.
Retrieved from
https://www.mcser.org/journal/index.php/mjss/article/viewFile/4430/4331
Hurford, J. R., Heasley, B., & Smith, M. B. (2007). Semantics: A Coursebook (second
ed.). London: Cambridge University Press.
Setiawan, R. (2013, July 29). ANTONYMY IN SEMANTICS. Retrieved from
https://occiie23.wordpress.com/2013/07/29/antonymy-in-semantics/
Thanks!
Does anyone have any questions?