1. Lesson 11 Lexical semantics 1
LINGUA INGLESE 1 modulo A/B Introduction to English Linguistics prof. Hugo Bowles
Lesson 11
Lexical semantics 1

2. PARADIGMATIC & SYNTAGMATIC RELATIONS
Horizontal relationships are syntagmatic
Vertical relationships are paradigmatic
So semantic relationships are paradigmatic

3. Lexical relations - Hyponymy
Flower
daffodil tulip pansy rose
Sheep
ram ewe lamb
In this model one lexeme can substitute another: “X is a kind of Y”.
This relation is called HYPONYMY

4. Do these pairs mean the same thing?
enough
sufficient
insane
mad
rancid
rotten
autumn
fall
regal
kingly
deep
profound
fraternal
brotherly
sodium chloride
freedom
liberty
endless
everlasting
purchase
buy

5. Lexical relations - SYNONYMY
Synonyms are lexemes which have the same meaning
English has a lot of synonyms because its vocabulary comes from different sources (Anglo-Saxon, Latin, Greek, French)
But is it possible to have true synonyms, i.e. words with exactly the same meaning?

6. Distinguishing meanings
Some words only occur in particular contexts (e.g. dialect words, autumn-fall)
Some words only occur in certain styles (salt and sodium chloride)
Some words only occur in certain collocations (deep water but not profound water)
Some words are emotionally stronger (e.g. freedom, not liberty)
Some words overlap in meaning but are not identical (e.g. govern and direct)

7. Why is synonymy important for language students?
Because students often need to know “why do you say “x and not y” when x and y are very similar.
You will often find the answers in dictionaries or in concordances (see lesson 15 - collocation)

8. Are these pairs the same kind of opposite?
alive
dead
big
little
buy
sell
clumsy
dexterous
dry
wet
first
last
happy
sad
husband
wife
large
small
married
single
over
under
hot
cold

9. Lexical relations - Antonymy
Gradable antonyms - these are capable of comparison (e.g. wetter, very wet)
Complementary antonyms - if one applies the other does not (e.g. alive/dead)
Converse antonyms - these are mutually dependent; you cannot have one without the other (e.g. wife/husband)

10. How do we know antonyms? By intuition.
The antonym of little is big and the antonym of large is small. Large is not the antonym of little even though they are conceptual opposites.

11. Lexical relations - polysemy
Eye
“Eye” is classified as one word
with two different meanings.
This happens when the
difference in meaning is
predictable or regular.
There is a core meaning
from which the other meanings
(“eye” of a needle, “eye” of a
tornado) can be predicted.
Metaphors are often
polysemous

12. Lexical relations -homonymy
Bank
The word “bank” in “river bank” and “Lloyd’s bank” are classified as two different words with separate meanings even though they have the same form.
This is because the meaning of one form is not predictable from the meaning of another.

13. Implications for students
Leaning groups of hyponyms is easier for students than learning words separately
It is important to know how to distinguish the meaning of synonyms especially at advanced levels
Polysemous words are easier for students to understand than homonyms. Polysemous and metaphorical meanings can be taught with “core” meanings.

14. A word is easier to understand when …
It is a cognate
The morphology is recognised
The context is understood (so you can make a good guess at the meaning)
SO … you should always try to guess the meaning of a word when these factors are present
Only use a dictionary when none of these factors are present, i.e. when you have NO CHANCE of understanding it!