Semantics Flashcards
What does ‘connotation’ mean?
The implied meaning of a thing.
What does ‘denotation’ mean?
The literal meaning of an implication.
Synonyms are what?
Words or phrases which mean exactly the same or similar to a given word. Usually used to avoid simplistic words.
Antonyms are the complete opposites of words. Give an example.
‘Love’ is an antonym of ‘hate’.
What are hypernym’s also know as?
Superordinates.
‘Words with broad meanings that constitute categories into which words with more specific meanings would fall’ is a definition of what?
Hypernym.
‘Spoon’ is a hypernym of ‘cutlery’.
What is a ‘meronym’?
A term which denotes part of something but is used to refer to the whole of something:
- ‘faces’ is a meronym of many people.
What is ‘polysemy’?
The existence of several meanings in one word.
- ‘table’ and ‘mouse’.
What’s the difference between a ‘homonym’, ‘homograph’ and ‘homophone’?
A homonym will have the same sound and usually spelling, but will differ in meaning.
A homograph are words with the same spelling but differ in origin, meaning and sometimes pronunciation. ‘Fair’ and ‘fair’ as in a pleasing appearance and a carnival.
A homophone are pronounced the same but differ in meaning, origin or spelling. ‘Knew’ and ‘new’.
What is ‘amelioration’?
The act of improving something. When a word with a negative sense develops a positive one.
‘Sick’ when featuring as slang uses amelioration.
Perjoration is what exactly?
The downgrading of a words meaning. When a word with a positive one develops a negative one.
What is broadening and what is it known as?
Generalisation.
The process by which the meaning of a word becomes broader.
‘Mouse’ an animal and computer element.
What is narrowing?
Also known as ‘specification’.
It’s the process of a words meaning becoming specific.
‘Weakening’ as it’s known’ is the loss or reduction of meaning in a word, due to semantic change.
Semantic bleaching.
What is ‘semantics’?
Semantics boarders with grammar and lexis - it is the overall meaning of language and you use grammatical and lexical fields to define this.
Does it imply positive words?
Or negative such as ‘dorky’ or ‘nerd’?
Is this explanation vague or specific?
I sailed a boat, (within the pacific)
Does it contain contrasts of meaning?
Like synonyms for ‘slanting’ or ‘leaning’.
Antonyms are completely different;
they’re the opposite of words,
like ‘yes’ for ‘no’ and ‘is’ for ‘isn’t’.
Have subjective or personal words been used creating emotion and attitude?
How about changes of meaning,
like amelioration or semantic bleaching?
Don’t forget perforation and narrowing or generalisation!
