Chapter 6Sense Relations and

Sematic Field (6.1 ~ 6.3)

06002027 – 민광훈

6.1 Polysemy ( 다의성 )

6.2 Homonymy ( 동음이의 )

6.3 Synonymy ( 동의성 )

Contents

Words are arbitrary symbols and are in-depen -dent identities so far as their outer facet (spelling and pronun-ciation) is concerned.

But semantically, all words are related in one way or another, hense sense re-lations

The subjects are polysemy, homonymy, synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy

6.1 Polysemy ( 다의성 ) An overwhelming majority of words are polysemous in modern English Many words have two, three senses, or more However, when a word is first coined, it is always monosemic. In the course of development, the same symbol must be used to express more mean-ings. The result is polysemy.

1. Diachronic approachPolysemy is assumed to be the result of growth and development of the semantic structure of one and same word.At the time when the word was created, it was endowed with only one meaning. This first meaning is the primary meaning. With the advance of time, it took on more and more meaning. These later meanings are called derived meanings.

6. 1. 1 Two Approaches to PolysemyDiachronic approach & Synchronic approach

For example) Face(1) The front of the head(2) the expression of the countenance(3) A surface of a thing(4) The side or surface that is marked, as of a clock, domino(5) The appearance; outward aspect; rsemblance(6)[CH idiom] dignity; presitige, as in lose / save face(7) The topography (of an area)(8) The functional and striking surface (of a tool, golf club..)(9)[colloquialism] effrontery, audacity(10) What is shown by the language of a document(11) [mining] the end of a tunnel(12)[typography] the type surface on which a letter is cut

In many cases, the primary meaning became obso-lete or disappeared altogether. HarvestThe basic sense of word was ‘time of cutting’Now it is used in the sense of ‘reaping and gather-ing the crops’ or ‘ ‘ a season’s yield of grain or fruit.’ PainThe basic meaning was ‘Penalty or punishment’ nowThis meaning is preserved only in such phrases as ‘pains and penalties’, ‘upon/under pain of’The drived meanings ‘Suffering’, ‘great discomfort of the body or mind’ have become prevalent

Synchronically, polysemy is viewed as the coexistence of various meaning of the same word in a certain histori-cal period of time in Modern English.

In this way, the basic meaning of a word is the core of word-meaning called the central meaning. The de-rived meanings are secondary in com-parison.

Synchronic approach

But it does not necessarily mean that the secondary meanings are secondary in importance. There are cases where the central meaning has grad-ually diminished and one of the derived meanings has become dominant.For example ‘gay’(1) Joyous and lively; merry ; happy(2) Bright ; brilliant(3) Given to social life and pleasure(4) Wanton ; licentious(5) HomosexualIn both CCELD and LDCE, Sense (5) is arranged as No. 1, because it is rated as the most frequently used mean-ing.

The development of word meaning from monosemy to polysemy follows two courses, known as radiation and concatenation.

They are closely related in many cases, they work together, complementing each other

6. 1. 2 Two processes of Developmentradiation & concatenation.

1. radiation is a semantic process in which the primary meaning stands at the centre and secondary meanings proceed out of it in ev-ery direction.

The meneaings are independent of one an-other, but can all be traced back to the cen-tral meaning.

For example) Neck(1) that part of man or animal joining the head to the body.(2) that part of the garment(3) The neck of an animal used as food(4) A narrow part between the head and body ex) the neck of a violin(5) The narrowest part of anything : bottleThe primary meaning is (1). They don’t have the same meaning, but they are all related to the central meaning.

2. Concatenation, meaning ‘linking to-gether’, is the semantic process in which the meaning of a word moves gradually away from its first sense.

in many cases, by succesive shifts, there is not sigh of connection between the final sense and the beginning term.

For example) Treacle(1) Wild beast (2) Remedy for bites of venomous beasts (3) Antidote for poison or remedy for poi-

son (4) effective remedy (BrE) (5) molasses ( 당밀 )

(1),(2) are entirely lost; (3),(4) are obso-leteAnd only (5) remains common is use

6.2.1 Type of homonyms

Homonyms( 동음이의어 ) are generally de-fined as words different in meaning.But either identical both in sound and spelling or identical only sound or spelling

6.2 Homonymy ( 동음이의 )

Based on the degree of similarity, homonyms fall into three classes;Perfect homonyms(완전동의어 ), homographs(동형이의어 ),and homophones(이철어 )

1. Perfect homonyms( 완전동의어 ) Perfect homonyms are words identi-cal both in sound and spelling, but diffifent in meaning

- bear (n) : a large heavy animal bear (v) : to put with, endure- Date (n) : a kind of fruit ( 대추 ) date(n) : a boy or girl friend

2. Homographs( 동형이의어 ) Homographs are words identical only in spelling but different in sound and meaning

- bow /bau/ (n): bending the head as a greet-ing bow /(AmE) bou , (BrE) bəu/ (n) : the device used for shooting arrows

- sow / (AmE) sou , (BrE) səu/ (v): : to scatter seeds sow /sau/ (n) : female adult pig

3. Homophones ( 이철어 )Homophones are words identical only in sound but different in spelling and meaning- Dear /(AmE) diər, (BrE) diə/ (n) : a loved person Deer /(AmE) diər, (BrE) diə/ (n) : a kind of animal- Right /rait/ (a) : correct write /rait/ (v) : to put down on paper with a pen rite / rait/ (v): a ceremonial procedure

There are various sources of homonyms :1. Change in sound and spelling gradually made

some words identical long (adj) : not short, from lang(Old English) long (verb) : to want very much from langian(OE)

2. Borrowing. Many words of foreign origin coin-cide in sound and spelling with those of native ori-gin. fair (n) : a market, borrowed from feria (L) fair (a) : pretty, from fæger (OE)

6.2.2 Origins of homonyms

3. Shortening. Many shortened forms of words happen to be identical with other words in spelling or sound

Ad (n) shortened from advertisementAdd (v) to cause an increase

Perfect homonyms( 완전동의어 ) and polysemants( 다의어 ) are fully identical with regard to spelling and pronuncia-tion.One important criterion is to see their et-ymology( 어원 ). Homonyms are from dif -ferent sources whereas a polysemant is from the same sourece.

6.2.3 Differentiantion of Homonyms(동음이의어 ) from Polysemants( 다의어 )

The second principal consideration is se-mantic relatedness. The various meanings of a ploysemant are corrected to one cen-tral meaning. On the other hand, meanings of different homonyms have nothing to do with one another

As homonyms are identical in sound or spelling (partic-ularly homophones) they are often employed to create pun( 말장난 )s for desired effect of, humor or ridicule

In restaurant“You`re not eating your fish” the waitress said to him “Anything wrong with it? ” “Long time no sea” the man replied‘Long time no see’ is usually said as a form of greeting. In this conversation, Customer criticize the bad quality of food in a humourous way. ‘long time no sea’ implies that ‘sea food kept for a long time is not fit for eating’

6.2.4 Rhetoric Features of Homonyms

6. 3 Synonymy ( 동의성 )English is known for its abundant amount of synonyms. For example, in Beowulf, there were at least thirty-six words used for ‘hero’ and ‘prince’ ,Seventeen expressions found used for ‘sea’However, in present-day English, most of these terms have disappeared because we no longer need them

6. 3. 1 Definition of Synonyms

Synonyms( 동의어 ) can be defined as words different in sound and spelling but most nearly alike or exactly the same in meaning.But they denote similar concept, they differ in stylistic appropriateness(문체상의 어울림 ).

6. 3. 2 Type of Synonyms1. Absolute synonyms are words which are identical in meaning in all its aspects. scarlet-fever = scarlatina ( 세균성인후염 )2. Relative synonyms are similar or nearly the same in denotation stagger / reel/ totter ( 비틀거리다 ) stagger implies unsteady movement in a certain situation. reel suggest swaying like a drunken man. totter indicates the uncertain steps of an old person or infant.

6. 3. 3. Source of Synonyms1. Borrowing( 차용 ) native : room , Foreign : Chamber2. Dialects and regional English railway(BrE) , railroad(AmE)3. Figurative and euphemistic use of words( 비유적이고 완곡한 표현 ) occupation , walk of life (fig)4. Coincidence with idiomatic expres-sions decide , make up one`s mind help , lend one a hand

6. 3. 4 Discrimination of Synonyms

1. Difference in denotation( 명시적 의미의 차이 ).

Synonyms may differ in the range and intensity of meaning. For example, timid and timorous are synonymous, but the former is applied to both the state of mind at the mo-ment and habitual disposition( 성격 ) And the latter only to the disposition

Synonyms may differ in degree of in-tensity

For example, rich man and a wealthy lady are both rich, but the wealthy lady is felt to possess more money and property than rich man.

2. Difference in connotation( 함축의 차이 ).Some words share the same denotation but differ in their stylistic appropriate-ness.

For example, the words borrowed from French and Latin are generally more formal than native words. (Native / Latin)Answer/ respond , handy/ manualHomely/ domestic , storm/ tempest

Big and greatBig is generally used show the big-ness of size, volume, extent, weight and so on without any emotive color-ing whereas great suggest ‘eminent’ , ‘outstanding’ , etc

3. Difference in application( 적용의 차이 )Many words are synonymous in meaning but different in usage in simple terms.

For exampleallow and let are synonyms, but we allow sb to do sth and let sb do sth

Empty and vacant. Empty implies that there is no one or nothing inside. Empty box, room Vacant suggests that something or some place is not occupied. Vacant seat, chair