SEMANTICS LI 2013 NATHALIE F MARTIN Bibliography

SEMANTICS LI 2013 NATHALIE F. MARTIN

Bibliography / References Primary Reference and reading: Contemporary Linguistic Analysis (O’Grady & Archibald, 2009, p. 190 -207) Reading: Ambiguity in College Writing (Stageberb, Norman C. , in Linguistics at Work: A Reader of Application, by Dallin D. Oaks, 1998) Secondary Reference (for information only): A Concise Introduction to Linguistics (Rowe & Levine, 2009; 153 -173)

Table of Content § Introduction: Ambiguity (review of text) § Concept, Referent and Form § Semantics § Meaning § Semantic Relations Among Words § The –NYMS § Meaning of Phrases and Sentences § Meaning of Words Through Time

Ambiguity Review of the text: Ambiguity in College Writing (Stageberb, Norman C. , in Linguistics at Work: A Reader of Application, by Dallin D. Oaks, 1998)

Multiple Meanings _______ E. g. For many purposes they used obsidian or volcanic rock. _______ E. g. a fat lady’s man _______ E. g. Many hands make light work. (in given example) _______ E. g. I am an outdoor lover. “Out-of-doors lover” … or … ? Ambiguity in College Writing (Stageberb)

What Ambiguity? q Lexical ambiguity? q Syntactic ambiguity? q Class ambiguity? q Script ambiguity?

What Ambiguity? q Lexical ambiguity? q Syntactic ambiguity? q Class ambiguity? q Script ambiguity? A small business man.

What Ambiguity? q Lexical ambiguity? q Syntactic ambiguity? q Class ambiguity? q Script ambiguity?

Concept, Referent and Form PRELIMINARY THEORY TO SEMANTICS THE ABSTRACT SIDE OF LANGUAGE

Referent: the actual thing REFERENT (the actual thing)

Referent, Concept and Symbol SYMBOL (word) [bərd] CONCEPT (abstract, in our heads) Qu’est-ce que le langage? (Leclerc)

Referent, Concept and Symbol SYMBOL (word) [bərd] CONCEPT (abstract, in our heads) REFERENT (the actual thing) Ferdinand de Saussure Qu’est-ce que le langage? (Leclerc)

Referent, Concept and Symbol The _____ refers to the linguistic elements (word, sentence, etc. ), the _____ refers to the object in the world of experience, and THOUGHT or REFERENCE refers to _____.

Referent, Concept and Symbol Concept Refers to Referent evokes Symbol There is not a direct link between the sound of the word dog (Symbol) and the object it refers to. What is called the signified is not actually what we have been shown but an abstract concept formed in our mind. Stands for no direct relationship Semantic Triangle Ogden & Richards

Romeo and Juliette (Shakespeare) • Juliet: 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! WHAT'S IN A NAME? THAT WHICH WE CALL A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD SMELL AS SWEET; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, And for that name which is no part of thee Take all myself

Review: The Psychic Side of Things SYMBOL CONCEPT Sounds bərd] Concept -__________ of (__________ of the sound reality) - « acoustique image » -Psychic (sound pattern) -Mental image of the referent -A string of phonemes (sounds) -Psychic imprint - Ex: covered in feathers, has a bec, - We reffer to this mental imprint to etc. understand when someone speaks -Common to speakers of that language (therefore conventional) Ferdinand de Saussure

Concepts Across Languages « WIN » (Eng) « GAGNER » (Fr) « DEVANCER » ( fr) BEAT / « BEATER » (to be ahead) (Acadian French)

Semantics

Definition: Semantics is the study of the _____ of linguistic expressions, such as morphemes, words, phrases, clauses, and sentences.

What is the Meaning of This? Cold Behind Old Accent Fine Nobody Cool This Fly Getting in touch

CONTEXT is Key ! – Certain aspects of meaning change with the __________ Ø Nobody bought milk (store owner vs. room mates) X is old: “old” means different things depending on what X is (person, food, currency, place, friend…) Context is therefore very important!!

Semantics Two types of semantics: 1. __________ : meaning of words 2. __________ : meaning of utterances larger than words

Meaning FIVE APPROACHES TO MEANING: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Connotation Denotation Extension and intention Componential Analysis Subcategorization of verbs Actantial Approach

What is “word meaning”? § What does it mean when you say you know the meaning of a word? § What does it mean when you say you know a word, such as “bird” “blue”, or “happy” ? § How do we _____ of a word meaning?

1. Connotation « Set of associations that a word’s use can evoke » e. g. winter Ø Ø

2. Denotation According to __________ … To equate meaning to a word or phrase with actual entities to which it refers e. g. * But what about _____ things that have no referents !!!

Denotation ____ referents for one thing the same thing e. g. Paul Martin:

3. Extension versus intention A word’s corresponds to the _____ that it _____ in the world (_____ ) A word’s corresponds to its __________ or the _____ that _____. * The distinction stipulates the relation between referents and meanings

4. Componential Analysis Used to represents the word’s INTENTION ALSO CALLED: COMPONENTIAL ANALYSIS OR SEMANTIC DECOMPOSITION

Componential Analysis INTENTION Contemporary Linguistics Analysis: p. 196 Semantic properties: The _____ of meaning of a word. Semantic feature: A notational device for expressing the _____ or _____ of semantic properties by “+” and “-”. Ø Example of componential analysis: “baby” is [+ young], [+ human], [– abstract].

INTENTION Componential Analysis 1. (a) widow, mother, sister, aunt, maid (b) widower, father, brother, uncle, valet [ human] The (a) and (b) words are The (a) words are [ female] The (b) words are [ male] 2. (a) bachelor, paperboy, pope, chief (b) bull, rooster, drake, ram The (a) and (b) words are [ male] The (a) words are [ human] The (b) words are [ animal]

INTENTION Componential Analysis 3. (a) table, stone, pencil, cup, house, ship (b) milk, alcohol, rice, soup, mud The (a) words are[ count] The (b) words are[ count] 4. (a) pine, elm, sycamore (b) dandelion, aster, daisy The (a) and (b) words are [ plant] The (a) words are [ tree] The (b) words are [ flower]

INTENTION Componential Analysis SWINE Definition: an adult female swine; also : the adult female of various other animals (as a bear) Ø http: //www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/ Semantic Analysis: [ animal], [ swine], [ male] or [ female]

INTENTION Componential Analysis CAR Definition: A vehicle moving on wheels Ø http: //www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/ Semantic Analysis: [ vehicle], [ motorized], [ 4 wheels] …

INTENTION Componential Analysis BUTTERFLY Definition: any of numerous slender-bodied diurnal lepidopteran insects including one superfamily (Papilionoidea) with broad often brightly colored wings and usually another superfamily comprising the skippers Ø http: //www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/ Semantic Analysis: [+ ], [+ ], [- ] …

5. Subcategorization of verbs 2 COMPLEMENTS: Fax Radio Wire Phone NO COMPLEMENT: Murmur Mumble Mutter Shriek Emphasis on: - _____ ______ Ø So there’s a link between _____and _____!!!

6. Actantial Approach In defining verbs we should also describe their _____ and the _____ : A 1 tosses A 2 to A 3: A 1 = [+ human] A 2 = [+ concrete], [+ movable], [+ small] A 3 = [± human] or [+ living/moving], [+ with hands] … * Again, this is a combination of _______ and _____!

Semantic Relations Among Words THE –NYMS: 1. HYPONYM, HYPERNYM AND 2. 3. 4. 5. COHYPONYM SYNONYM AND PARASYNONYMS ANTONYMS POLYSEMY HOMONYM 1. 2. 3. Homonyms Homophone Homographs

1. Hyponyms (Semantic Relations among Words) Hyponyms and hypernyms Hyponymy: Words whose meanings are _____ instances of a more general word, e. g. isosceles and equilateral are hyponyms of the word triangle. Hyponyms and cohyponyms Let’s organize these words: Dance (verb) Salsa Exercice Tango

2. Synonyms (Semantic Relations among Words) Synonymy: words that have the _______ meanings, e. g. start & begin.

Synonyms or Parasynonyms? o Vacation = holidays o Youth = adolescent o Remember = recall o Purchase = buy o Big = large

Synonyms & Parasynonyms Pride and Prejudice, a screenplay by Deborah Moggach The danger of parasynonyms and over-extension Chapter 3 : 20 minutes into the movie Odious Long Dote one her In raptures Accomplished

3. Antonyms A. GRADABLE VS UNGRADABLE B. CONVERSE C. REVERSIVES

Antonyms vs Synonyms Antonymy: words that are _____ in meanings, e. g. hot & cold. Synonymy or Antonymy n Flourish – thrive n Intelligent – stupid n Casual – informal n Flog – whip n Drunk – sober a. b. c. d. e. synonym antonym

a. Gradable/ungradable antonyms Grading involves _____. When we compare two or more objects. Do the objects have the property to the same ______or not: … cold cool warm + hot … Gradable: “colder” The weather is much colder this week than last week. Ungradable: “male” ٭ John is as much male as Peter. ٭ John is more male than Peter.

a. Gradable/ungradable antonyms (continued) Exception: Normal language behavior: ungradable antonyms can sometimes be graded in speech. The reasons for it are pragmatic. Example John is more of a bachelor than Daniel (i. e. more determined never to get married, partying, had never had a stable girlfriend, etc. ) I am more alive now than ever (i. e. feeling more energetic, satisfied with my life, etc).

b. Conversives There is a _____ ___ between both Without one you don’t have the other: Ø Examples: o Husband – wife o Doctor – patient o Master – mistress o Before - after o Above – below, etc. Often used to speak of _____ social roles, _____ and _____ relations.

c. Reversives Another term: __________. Examples of directional opposites include: Examples: o Up - down o Come - go o Arrive – depart Ø Common feature: implication of _____in one of the two opposite directions __________.

Antonyms (review) q Gradable vs Ungradable? q Converse? q Reversives?

4. Polysemy Semantic Relations among Words Polysemy: A word which has ___or more _____ meanings e. g. bright: ‘bright light’ ; ‘bright colors’

5. Homonymy Semantic Relations among Words Homonymy: A word which has ____or more __________ meanings e. g. club: ‘a social organization’ ; ‘a blunt weapon’.

Identifying Homonyms in Jokes 1. Time flies _____an arrow Fruit flies _____ a banana 2. Policeman: Why have you parked your car here? Motorist: Because the sign says “ for Parking”. 3. Customer: Have you got half-inch ? Ironmonger: Yes, sir. Customer: Then could you scratch my back. It’s very itchy

Homonymy or Polysemy ?

Polysemy & Homonymy ?

Homonyms, Homophony & Homography Homophony: Different words _______ but __________ , e. g. two and too. Homography: Different words _____ but _________ e. g. minute and minute. ØHomonyms are words that are and homographs. homophones

Identifying homophones 1. [steər] 1. Stair, stare 2. [weist] 2. waste, waist 3. [si: l. Iη] 3. sealing, ceiling 4. [kju: ] 4. cue, queue 5. [sent] 5. sent, cent, scent

Identifying Homographs 1. Read 2. Wind 3. Live 4. Tear 5. Invalid 6. Bow 7. Dove

Semantic Relations: Phrases and Sentences STRUCTURAL SEMANTICS: • CONTRADICTIONS • OXYMORONS • ANOMALOUS UTTERANCES • METAPHORS • IDIOMS • ETC.

Paraphrase Paraphrase: _____ that can have the _____ meaning. a. The police chased the burglar & The burglar was chased by the police. b. Paul bought a car from Sue & Sue sold a car to Paul

Entailment Entailment: a relation in which the of one sentence necessarily the of another. Examples of asymmetrical entailment. a. The park wardens killed the tiger. & The tiger is dead. b. Robin is a man & Robin is human

Contradiction Contradiction: When two sentences _____. a. Charles is a bachelor. b. Charles is married.

Metaphor and Metonymy All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players They have their exits and their entrances The White House said. . . The pen is mightier than the sword

Metaphor: The understanding of one concept _____ of another Happy or Sad? 1. I’m feeling up Happy 2. Her spirits sank Sad 3. That boosted my spirits Happy 4. The height of ecstacy Happy 5. The depths of misery Sad 6. He fell into a depression Sad Ø Emotions: Happy is Up; Sad is down

Synecdoche, Allegory, Hyperbole Synecdoche Part for whole: head for cattle Whole for part: the police, the Pentagon Species for genus: kleenex Genus for species: PC

Idioms Two central features of idioms: 1. 2. The meaning of the idiomatic expression cannot be deduced by the examining the ________. The expression is both grammatically and lexically. For example: Put a sock in it = ‘stop talking’

Can you identify the meanings of the following idioms? Ring a bell. It sounds familiar to you / You have heard it before 2. By word of mouth. In a spoken form. 3. On the house. Free for the customers. 4. Hot spot a. A place of political danger. b. A lively nightclub. c. An area on the screen which can be clicked on to start an operation such as loading a file. d. An area where you can get connected to the Internet through a wireless network. 1.

Cross-Cultural Misunderstanding of Idioms Can’t translate from language to another: « Foot in your mouth » vs. « Doigt dans l’œil » Sometimes leads to misunderstanding:

Compound Words Compound words are treated as having one _____ and is not necessarily the adding together of the two individual meanings of the two words. Ex: « High chair » « tooth brush »

Meaning of Words Through Time

Neologism (or Coinage)

Neologism (or Using derivation: Coinage)

Evolution of Meaning Language Changes a lot, not just in adding new words here and there, but also as the meaning of these words change with time. o o « Cool » used to mean « not warm/cold » . Then the meaning changed. Now, « cool » , is not really that « cool » anymore !

Evolution of Extension BARRER (Acadian French): - Blocked river - Block road - Block door (locked) Ø This is how you get _____

Evolution of Extension