Homonymy Lecture 7 1 Homonyms Two or

Homonymy Lecture 7

1. Homonyms. Two or more words identical in sound and spelling but different in meaning, distribution and (in many cases) origin are called homonyms. bank – a shore bank – an institution for receiving, lending, exchanging money ball – a sphere; any spherical body ball – a large dancing party “A tailor guarantees to give each of his customers a perfect fit”. “Would you like to ride on your own ass? ” (adv. at a donkey-ride)

General reasons of homonymy: • The structure of English words, most of which are mono- or dissyllabic. • English is an analytical language with very few inflections characteristic of particular part of speech that is why the form of words which belong to different parts of speech may be identical. • Homonymy like polysemy exists only in language. In speech homonyms are disambiguated. The context is a main means of disambiguation.

2. Types of homonyms. I. 1) full homonyms; 2) partial homonyms. II. 1) homonyms proper; 2) homophones; 3) homographs. III. 1) lexical; 2) grammatical; 3) lexico-grammatical.

Full and partial homonyms Full – identical paradigms, all their forms coincide. Also belong to the same part of speech Pole ~ pole; match ~ match; Partial – coincide in one or some forms only: a) Simple lexico-grammatical partial homonyms – common part of speech to found; to find – found to lie – lay; lay – laid to bound; to bind – bound to saw; to. . ? b) Complex lexico-grammatical partial homonyms – different part of speech rose; to rise – rose c) Partial lexical homonyms – common pat of speech but identical in one corresponding form. to lie (lay, lain) – to lie (lied, lied)

Homonyms proper – same sound and graphic form bark ~ bark Homophones – same sound form write – right; steel– steal Homographs – same spelling to lead – lead; to read – read learned – learned

3. Sources of homonymy. 1. Split of polysemy. spring “unexpected emergency” > spring (1, 2, 3, 4) board “a long and thin piece of timber” > board (1, 2, 3) 2. Phonetic processes I ~ eye; night ~ knight, stake ~ steak, brake ~ break 3. Borrowing rite, n. (< Lat. Ritus). ~ to write, v. ~ right, adj. 4. Conversion water ~ to water 5. Shortening. vet “veteran ~ veterinarian”; vac “vacation ~ vacuum cleaner”

4. Relations between homonymy and polysemy. Is life worth living? – It depends on the liver. The criteria of differentiation between polysemy and homonymy: • Etymological. (different origin = homonymy). • Formal. (common spelling, pronunciation and distribution > there are only homographs and homophones). • Semantic. (no semantic links = homonymy)

What is contextual meaning? sheer nonsense ~ sheer whisky ~ sheer rock ~ sheer stockings ~ by sheer chance take a book ~ take a train ~ take an offer ~ take a hint ~ take a seat solid food ~ solid clouds ~ solid line ~ solid gold ~ solid firm ~ solid word ~ solid reason ~ solid party ~ solid rain ~ solid respect

The word “table” has at least nine meanings in Modern English. • • 1. a piece of furniture; 2. the persons seated at a table; 3. the food put on the table, meals; 4. a thin flat piece of stone, metal, wood, etc; 5. slabs of stone; 6. words cut into them or written on them; 7. an orderly arrangement of facts, figures, etc; 8. part of machine-tool on which the work is put to be operated on; • 9. level area, a plateau. Which meaning appeared first? Is it the central meaning now?

• Classify the following homonyms into: full; partial; homographs; homophones. 1. to write letters, right answer 2. to lead the party, to use lead and nickel 3. to bow to the king, to use a bow and arrows 4. sun and moon, his son 5. wind and snow, to wind the clock 6. seal lives in cold regions, you should seal the letter 7. to pay a fine, a fine place 8. to turn on the light, a light dress 9. a can of meat, he can die 10. he left the room, his left leg 11. a red rose, she rose 12. to lean forward, a lean person 13. a brave knight, a dark night 14. to live by the sea, to see a film

Can you give homonyms of these words? 1. rite – 2. oar – 3. buy – 4. hour – 5. scent – 6. witch – 7. piece – 8. weight – 9. caught – 10. sight – 11. waste – 12. role – 13. brake – 14. weak – 15. sail – 16. their – 17. cheque – 18. genes – 19. tail – 20. reign –