Lecture 4 Semantic structure of English words lexical

Lecture 4 Semantic structure of English words: lexical meaning

Contents 1. Lexico-grammatical meaning 2. Denotative meaning 3. Connotative meaning Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 2

Semasiology as a branch of linguistics The branch of lexicology that is devoted to the study of meaning is known as semantics, or semasiology. The name comes from the Greek semasia ‘signification’ and logos. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 3

Lexicology and Semasiology By definition lexicology deals with words, word-forming morphemes (derivational affixes) and wordgroups or phrases. All these linguistic units have meaning of some kind and must be investigated in relation to form and meaning. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 4

Lexical meaning The disciples of Ferdinand de Saussure consider meaning as relation between the object or notion named, and the name itself. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 5

Leonard Bloomfield Descriptive linguists define the meaning as the situation in which is word is uttered (pronounced). Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 6

I. V. Arnold (Russian linguist) Lexical meaning is the realization of concept or emotion by means of a definite language system. The definition stresses that semantics studies only such meanings that can be expressed by signs. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 7

Grammatical meaning Is defined as an expression in speech of relationships between words based on contrastive features of arrangements in which they occur. It is more abstract and generalized than lexical meaning (lexicogrammatical classes) Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 8

Grammatical meaning (2) Is defined as the component of meaning recurrent in identical sets of individual forms of different words. E. g. asked, thought, walked (tense meaning) sun’s, employer’s night’s (case meaning) Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 9

Lexico-grammatical meaning • Is the common denominator of all the meanings of words belonging to a lexicogrammatical class of words. • It is the feature according to which they are grouped. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 10

Generic terms (or hyperonyms) Words in which abstraction and generalization are so great they can be lexical representatives of lexicogrammatical meanings and substitute any word of their class. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 11

Examples of generic terms The word ‘matter’ is a generic term for material nouns (stone, glass, plastic, wool, cotton). The word ‘group’ for collective nouns (team, choir, society, club). Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 12

What is the generic term for these nouns? gauge (шаблон; измерительный прибор) screwdriver (отвертка) hammer (молоток) pliers(плоскогубцы) scissors (ножницы) spanner (разводной ключ) Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 13

Task: Lexical meaning What unites the following words: a) lexical meaning b) grammatical meaning c) lexico-grammatical meaning? Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 14

Task: Lexical meaning 1. Conducted, generated, developed, transmitted 2. Fast, quick, rapid, swift 3. Companies, electricians, phenomena, transformers 4. To supply, to distribute, energy, voltage, renewable Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 15

Denotative meaning makes communication possible To denote means to give a name to objects and things. The knowledge about things, concepts and phenomena is embodied in words, which have same meaning for all speakers of the language. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 16

Proximate and distant word meaning (A. A. Potebnya) The ‘proximate’ word meaning is the bare minimum of characteristic features as used by every speaker in everyday life, and the ‘distant’ word meaning corresponding to what specialists know about the referent. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 17

Is linguistics concerned with st or 2 nd type? the 1 The answer? Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 18

Where is the borderline between 2 types of information? It is becoming more flexible, more fluid. The reason is that with the development of culture the gap between the elementary notions of a layman and the more and more exact concepts of a specialist narrows in some spheres and widens in others. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 19

Theory of information • We divide speech information into information making the subject of communication unrelated to the communication act and • information directly linked with the circumstances and participants of communication Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 20

st 1 part of information It is denotative meaning to refer to the 1 st part of information, since it denotes (or gives name to ) the concept (notion). E. g. circuit board, laboratory, London, Billy Brown, capacity, energy, grid, circuit Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 21

nd 2 part of information nd 2 Connotation refers to the part of information linked with the conditions and participants of communication. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 22

Components of connotation • emotional (emotive) • evaluative • expressive (emphatic, intensifying) and • stylistic components Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 23

Connotation vs. denotation Denotation – what the word refers to (object, notion, phenomenon) Connotation – pragmatic communicative value (where, when, how, by whom, for what purpose, in what contexts) Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 24

Emotional connotation The word has emotional connotation if it reflects certain feeling or emotion. Feelings: of shame/ danger/ thirst/pleasure Emotions: love/hatred/grief Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 25

Honey and duck Compare denotative meanings of these words. Are they similar? And connotative meanings? Both are pet names. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 26

Duck and honey: emotional and stylistic connotations Duck – infml, esp. Br. E used for addressing a person one likes. E. g. She’s a sweet old duck. Honey – esp. Am. E used when speaking to someone you love E. g. Gee, honey, that’s a swell dress you’ve got on! Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 27

Why a word gets emotional connotation? It happens as a result of frequent use in contexts corresponding to emotional situations or because the referent that is named in the denotative meaning is associated with emotions. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 28

Emotional connotation Compare these 2 words Alone Lonely Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 29

Emotional connotation: lonely Denotative – alone, without a company Connotative – melancholic, sad E. g. He has been desperately lonely since his wife left him. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 30

Emotional connotation: glare Denotative – stare, look steadily Connotative – in an angry way E. g. They didn’t fight, but stood there glaring at one another. (испепелять взглядом) Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 31

Emotional connotation: tremble Denotative – shake uncontrollably Connotative – usually from fear, excitement E. g. His voice trembled. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 32

Words denoting emotions and feelings These words have denotative meanings: fear, delight, gloom, cheerfulness, annoy Emotive charge in these words depends on associations and responses linked with the referent: death, tears, honour, rain Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 33

Evaluative connotation Expresses approval or disapproval. It defines denotation more precisely and complements it. It enters dictionary definition. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 34

Cheap-inexpensive-reasonablecompetitive Cheap – costing very little money, less money than usual, or less money that expected, though not of the best quality. E. g. I only pay $20 for the room – it’s really cheap. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 35

Cheap-inexpensive-reasonablecompetitive Inexpensive – a word used esp. in written English meaning not expensive and of good quality for the price you pay. E. g. The car requires a powerful, but inexpensive and easy-tomaintain battery. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 36

Cheap-inexpensive-reasonablecompetitive Reasonable – these prices are not too high and you think they are fair. E. g. Hitachi are offering a very good product at a reasonable price. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 37

Cheap-inexpensive-reasonablecompetitive Competitive – these prices are as low as or lower than the prices charged by other shops or companies (competitors) E. g. The hotel offers a high standard of service at very competitive rates. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 38

Famous-celebrated-legendarynotorious-infamous Famous – well-known and talked about E. g. She collects signed photographs of famous people. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 39

Famous-celebrated-legendarynotorious-infamous Celebrated– very well-known, admired and talked about by many people esp. because of good qualities E. g. Van Gogh, perhaps Holland’s most celebrated artist, died in poverty. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 40

Famous-celebrated-legendarynotorious-infamous Legendary– very famous and having some special and unusual quality, that people like to talk about because it is funny or interesting E. g. The party was attended by Samuel Goldwyn, Hollywood’s legendary film producer. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 41

Famous-celebrated-legendarynotorious-infamous Notorious – famous or widely known because of something bad, for example for being criminal, violent, or immoral E. g. If you go to the club, be careful. It’s notorious for drugs and violence. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 42

Famous-celebrated-legendarynotorious-infamous Infamous – famous for being bad, esp. for being immoral or evil E. g. That infamous prison camp is now a museum. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 43

Intensifying connotation is a component of lexical meaning whose figurativeness is emphasized or intensified by means of expressiveness or some other ways. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 44

Hungry-peckish-starving-have the munchies Hungry– feeling that you want to eat E. g. We were really hungry after our long walk. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 45

Hungry-peckish-starving-have the munchies Peckish – an informal British word meaning a little hungry (adjective, is not used before noun) E. g. The kids were getting peckish so Sammy found a nearby cafe. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 46

Hungry-peckish-starving-have the munchies Starving/ravenous/famished – informal words meaning very hungry (adjective, is not used before noun) E. g. I’ve been driving for 8 hours nonstop and I am absolutely starving. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 47

Hungry-peckish-starving-have the munchies Have the munchies – an informal American expression meaning to feel a little hungry and want something to eat E. g. If you get the munchies later on there are some cookies in the kitchen. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 48

Intensifying adverbs all, ever, even, quite, really, absolutely – intensifying and stylistic connotations E. g. He never even opened his book. He’s ever such a clever boy. Why ever didn’t you go? Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 49

Intensifying adverbs (2) Some adverbs are formed from words denoting emotions: e. g. frightfully nice, terribly smart, awfully pleased They also have stylistic connotation by being colloquial. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 50

Stylistic connotation • When associations concern the situation in which the word is used, • the social circumstances (formal, informal or familiar) • the social relationships between the interlocutors (polite, rough) • the type and purpose of communication (learned, poetic, official) Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 51

Child-kid-infant-offspring Child – a son or daughter of any age E. g. Maria was expecting her first child. Kid – an informal word meaning son or daughter E. g. We are decorating the kid’s bedroom. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 52

Child-kid-infant-offspring Infant– a formal word meaning a child E. g. She is an absolute infant prodigy. Offspring– a formal or humorous word for someone’s child E. g. Parents are generally anxious to protect their offspring. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 53

Sir –Mr-mate-buddy-mister Sir – used when you are speaking or writing to a man and you want to show respect, esp. when you do not know his name E. g. Dear Sir, I am writing to apply for a position of electrical engineer. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 54

Sir –Mr-mate-buddy-mister Mr– used before a man’s family name when you are speaking or writing to him and want to be polite E. g. My new physics teacher is called Mr Elstone. Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 55

Sir –Mr-mate-buddy-mister Mate – an informal British word used when you are speaking to a man E. g. Oy, mate! You can’t park there! Buddy – an informal American word used when speaking to a man E. g. It’s good to see you, buddy! How’ve you been? Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 56

Sir –Mr-mate-buddy-mister Mister - a word used esp. in American English when you want to call to a man that you do not know E. g. Hey, Mister! Look out! Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 57

Thank you for your attention! Please ask your questions! Compiled by I. A. Cheremisina Harrer 58