6

Sense Relations &

Semantic Field

6. Sense Relations & Semantic Field

Sense relations: Polysemy Homonymy Synonymy Antonymy Hyponymy Semantic field

6.1 Polysemy

Polysemy is concerned with words of more than one meaning.

Change of word-meaning new word = one meaning =

monosemous monosemic

more than one = polysemous polysemic

6.1 Polysemy

How does a word acquire new meanings?

In what way are the meanings related to one another?

6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy

1. Diachronic approach Example: face: 12 senses Abstract M Concrete M (2) (1) (8) (5) (3) (10) (6) (4) (11) (9) (7) (12)

6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy

Polysemy is assumed to be the result of growth and development of the same word.

All the meanings (2)-(12) are derived from (1).

(1)(2, 3, 4, 5…12)

6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy

2. Synchronic approach Polysemy is viewed as the

coexistence of various meanings of the same word in a certain historical period of time.

The primary meaning is the core or central meaning.

All the rest are secondary.

6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy

Pictorial description of the meanings of face:

1

2

4

3

12

5

6

78

9

10

11

Each derived meaning is directly related to the central meaning.

radiation

6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy

There are cases where the central meaning has become less and less current with changes in culture and society, and one of the derived meanings has become dominant.

(1) joyous and lively; merry; happy (2) bright, brilliant (3) given to social life and pleasure (4) wanton; licentious (5) homosexual The arrangement follows the order of

semantic development.

gay (WNWD):

(1) homosexual (2) bright or attractive (3) cheerful; happy; full of fun

gay (LDCE)

(1) homosexual

(2) lively and enjoyable (person) (3) lively and interesting (place) (4) bright and pretty (colour) (5) lively and pleasant (music) Labour Day, Labour Day,

We are happy and gay!

gay (CCED, ALD)

6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy

In some cases, the meaning of a word moves gradually away from its first sense by successive shifts until, in many cases, there is not a sign of connection between the primary sense and the latest sense.

Example: treacle (1) wild beast (2) remedy for bites of venomous

beasts (3) antidote for poison or remedy for

poison (4) any effective remedy (5) (BrE) molasses

1

Treacle

2 3 4 5

concatenation

linking together

6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy

Radiation and concatenation are closely related, but are different stages of development leading to polysemy.

Generally, radiation precedes concatenation.

In many cases, the two processes work together, complementing each other.

6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy

radiation and concatenation

1

5 4a

3a

2

6

4b

3c

3b

Process of meaning development

6.2 Homonymy

6.2 Homonymy

Homonyms are generally defined as words different in meaning but either

identical both in sound and spelling or identical only in sound or identical only in spelling.

6.2.1 Types of Homonyms

1. Perfect homonyms words identical both in sound and

spelling bark v. （狗）吠 bark n. 树皮 fan n. 扇 fan n. 迷

6.2.1 Types of Homonyms

2. Homographs [homo (same) +graph (writing)] words identical only in spelling row v. /r∂u/ 划（船） row n. /rau/ 喧哗 lead v. /li:d/ 领导 lead n. /led/ 铅

6.2.1 Types of Homonyms

3. Homophones [homo (same) +phone (sound)] words identical only in sound air /εə/ heir /εə/ 继承人 cell /sel/ 小房间 sell /sel/

6.2.1 Types of Homonyms

Of the three types, homophones constitute the largest number.

6.2.2 Origins of Homonyms

1. Change in sound and spelling ear n. 耳 from eare (OE) ear n. 穗 from ær (OE)

6.2.2 Origins of Homonyms

2. Borrowing ball n. 球 from beallu (OE) ball n. 舞会 from baller (OF)

6.2.2 Origins of Homonyms

3. Shortening mad MAD mutually assured destruction who WHO World Health Organization

6.2.3 Distinguishing homonyms and Polysemants

1. Source 2. Semantic relatedness

6.2.3 Distinguishing homonyms and Polysemants

polysemant: (1) same source, different meanings (2) meanings related homonyms: (1) different sources, different meanings (2) meanings not related

6.2.4 Rhetoric Functions of Homonyms

Homonyms are often employed to create puns for desired effect of humour, sarcasm or ridicule.

6.2.4 Rhetoric Functions of Homonyms

Customer: “How come your sausages taste like meat at one end but like bread at the other?”

Butcher: “Madam, in times like this, no butcher can make both ends m

eat/meet.”

6.2.4 Rhetoric Functions of Homonyms

A: What colour would you paint the sun and the wind?

B: The sun rose and the wind blue. The sun rose and the wind blew.

6.2.4 Rhetoric Functions of Homonyms

A: Do you know what happens to lawyers when they die?

B: They lie still. 继续说谎 躺着不动

END