Polysemy The semantic structure of a polysemantic word

Polysemy. The semantic structure of a polysemantic word

Polysemy is the universal phenomenon, the essence of which consists in the fact that several related meanings are associated with the same group of sounds within one part of speech. Thus, polysemantic words denote a whole set of related concepts, grouped according to the national peculiarities of a given language.

Meanings of the word «model» : 1) a copy of something usually smaller than the original; 2) a particular design or type of product; 3) a simple description of a system, used for explaining how something works, or calculating what might happen; 4) a system that can be copied by other people; 5) a person or thing that is considered to be an excellent example of something.

Polysemy is a result of: 1. Shifts in application Ex. : adj. red ink (is really red) red hair red deer red cabbage red Indian 2. Specialization Ex. : partner Basic meaning: a type of relationship between 2 or more people. - business partner - marriage partner - partner in crime 3. Metaphorical extension Ex. : leaf of a tree – leaf of a book hands of a person – hands of a clock

One of the most important characteristics of polysemy is the presence of significance of a particular word. Polysemy is a condition of one word which has the possibility to increase more aspects of the same referent. Polysemantic words are those that have more than one meaning.

The problem of distinguishing polysemy from homonymy E. Hatch, and I. R. Galperin consider polysemy to be the source of the rise of homonymy, appearing in result of growing weak in its meaningful relationship, on the base of which a new additional meaning appears. E. Hatch claims that polysemy and homonymy are of special interest, and only the context can determine where polysemy or homonymy is

R. O. Yakobson asserts that in polysemy and homonymy there is some invariant that links even some separate entries. I. R. Galperin asserts that a polysemantic word breaks its semantic ties with the head word and becomes a homonym for the word it is derived from.

R. S. Ginsburg mentions that words, identical in their sound form, but different in meaning, are traditionally termed homonyms, and tries to show the difference between various meanings of one word, and the meaning of two homonymous words.

In case when words which sound the same retain a remote, but still the same meaning, and are united by the same shape meaning, we have an example of polysemy. When two different words sound the same, but have no relationship in meaning, homonymy appears. Homonyms are the result of disintegration, or split of polysemy, and represent the case when two words sound the same way, but have nothing in common, in spite of the same spelling.

The semantic structure of a polysemantic word Two levels of analysis. On the first level, the semantic structure of a word is treated as a system of meanings.

“Fire” I. Flame II. An instance of destructive burning Ex. a forest fire III. Burning material in a stove, fireplace Ex. There is a fire in the next room IV. The shooting of guns Ex. to open fire V. Strong feeling, passion Ex. a speech lacking fire

Dull, adj. A dull book, a dull film - uninteresting, monotonous, boring. A dull student - slow in understanding, stupid. Dull weather, a dull day, a dull colour not clear or bright. A dull sound - not loud or distinct. A dull knife - not sharp. Trade is dull - not active. Dull eyes - seeing badly. Dull ears - hearing badly.

Dull Uninteresting - deficient in interest or excitement. Stupid - deficient in intellect. Not bright - deficient in light or colour. Not loud - deficient in sound. Not sharp - deficient in sharpness. Not active - deficient in activity. Seeing badly - deficient in eyesight. Hearing badly - deficient in hearing.

Semantic structure of a word should be investigated at both these levels: 1) of different meanings, 2) of semantic components within each separate meaning.