TYPES OF

MEANINGS
Reporter: Kimberly Benigay ABEL 2C
OBJECTIVES;

At the end of this lesson , you should be able to:

• Defined what is meaning
•Describe the different types of meaning.
THREE BASIC TYPES OF MEANING

• Thematic Meaning
• Conceptual Meaning
• Associative Meaning
ASSOCIATIVE MEANING

• Connotative Meaning
• Collocative Meaning
• Affective Meaning
• Reflected Meaning
• Stylistics (or Social) Meaning
MEANING

• Meaning is at the centre of the study of semantics.

• According to naturalist Plato, the meaning of a word is the
entity to thing it represents.
• According to J.Firth , meaning of a word derives from its usage.
THEMATIC MEANING
• It is the arrangement of the
components of communication
that determine the point of
emphasis.
Example:
• Jane bought the house.
• It was Jane that bought the
house.
• The house was bought by
Jane.
• The house , Jane painted.
CONCEPTUAL MEANING

• Synonymous with primary , Example:

central, logical, cognitive or Woman
Man
denotative meaning of a word.
+Human +Human
• The first ordinary meaning
+Male -Male
listed in dictionaries.
+Adult +Adult
 ASSOCIATIVE MEANING

• The meaning of a word is affected by the context ,

background, time and the cultural realities of the users
of language.
• This type of meaning is not static. Its is variable and
open ended.
CONNOTATIVE MEANING

• Contains elements of the conceptual meaning of a word

and the individual’s personal interpretation of what is
communicated. That interpretation is based on the
experience of the hearer.
COLLOCATIVE MEANING

Examples:
• The natural association
• August visitor
and sequence or words in
• Auspicious occasions
longer structures. • Sympathise with
• Nutrition food
AFFECTIVE MEANING

• Is related to the feelings and attitudes of the speaker

towards the subject or the audience.
• Certain word suggest positive feelings- love, attraction,
happiness, exciting. In negative reactions- disgusting ,
nauseating, disappointing.
REFLECTED MEANING

• Relates to expressions with multiple meanings. Words

with several meanings(polysemous words), have
reflected meanings.
STYLISTICS (OR SOCIAL MEANING)

• It is common knowledge that a speaker’s choice of

words and structures reveals his or her social , regional,
geographical or even economic background.
THANK YOU