Semantic fields Semantic fields derive from the

Semantic fields

Semantic fields derive from the fact that conceptual fields are covered by a number of listemes in a language, each denoting a part of the field: Basic colour terms in English: grey, red, pink (red & white), brown, orange (red & yellow) black, yellow, white, purple (red& white), green, blue

Semantic field Each listeme in the field has a value. The differential value of a listeme is the part of the conceptual field it denotes in contrast with the part denoted by other listemes in the same semantic field. All languages have some BASIC COLOUR TERMS (Berlin & Kay, 1969), but some conditions: ØThe term is monolexemic: Blue is basic; navy blue isn’t. ØThe term isn’t a hyponym of any other colour term: Red is basic; crimson, a kind of red, isn’t. ØThe term has wide applicability: blond isn’t one. ØIt is not a semantic extension from something showing that colour: Gold and charcoal aren’t basic.

Semantic field Some languages have only 2 basic colour terms: warm-light cool-dark From an abstract point of view, they can be analyzed in terms of merges of sets of chromatic 4 primary hues red, green, blue, yellow achromatic poles of brightness black & white

Semantic field Two basic colour terms warm-light = white red yellow cool-dark = green blue black With less than 6 colours, there is a merge of sets. With more than 6, there is overlap. Languages with 2 basic colour terms can distinguish & refer to all colours by comparing them to something in the environment: the colour of mud

Semantic field Conclusion: Although sensory data in the colour spectrum is the same for all human beings, languages name parts of the field differently: Western Dani 2 basic colour terms (Papuan language) divides spectrum in half Laambu translated as English yellow, BUT “not cool-dark” “not-white, not green, not-blue, not-black, not-brown, not-pink not-purple, not-orange, notgrey” (1 -11 th of spectrum)

Semantic field Semantic shift can result from the introduction of a new term into a field Girl (13 th. C) Knave (13 th. C) the new term changes the differential values ofthe existing terms “child of either sex” “boy” knave =“dishonest man” Boy caused girl = “female child”

Semantic field New objects or ways of doing things cause a change in the semantic field & the semantic extension of listemes. Field of cooking cook 1 bake cook 2 boil steam boil simmer fry broil roast sauté deep-fry grill barbecue poach stew braise bake

Semantic field Cook 1 = human agent preparing raw meat, fish, etc. by cooking it. Bake = human agent who combines ingredients to produce bakery products. Cook 2 = a process verb identifying something done as a type of food. Cooking media: boil (cook in hot water), steam (cook in hot water vapour), fry (cook with hot oil or fat), broil (grill), roast (grill in oven; overlaps with broil), bake (cook in dry heat, in an oven).

Semantic field Different ways of using the cooking medium: ØSimmer and boil = different heat intensity ØSauté (quick frying with little oil)/ deep-fry= 2 ways of frying. ØGrill (heat applied from heat above in a grill)/ barbecue (heat applied from below). Different reasons for simmering: poaching (slow simmering), stewing (long slow simmering), braising (1 st browning to seal in the juices). New term: Microwaving? ?

Semantic field Sometimes we find lexical gaps, i. e. when there is no listeme in a language for a concept within a conceptual field in which adjacent concepts are named: sobremesa time spent talking after a meal whatsapp “wasapear” you plural? Conclusion: Fields identify the semantic relations between names for concepts our experience in the world constrained by how humans perceive nature varies within language communities

Referencias Ø Allan, K. (2000), Natural Language Semantics. Cornwall: Blackwell. Ø Berlin, B. & P. Kay (1969), Basic colour terms: Their Universality and Evolution. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University California Press. Ø Cruse, A. 2004. Meaning in language. Oxford: O. U. P. Ø Hurford, J. , B. Heasley & M. B. Smith 2007. Semantics: A Coursebook. Cambridge: C. U. P. Ø Saeed, J. I. 1997. Semantics. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.