Synonymy CRITERIA OF SYNONYMY CRITERIA OF SYNONYMY

Synonymy CRITERIA OF SYNONYMY

CRITERIA OF SYNONYMY The problem of criteria of synonymy is in the fact that we cannot say which words should correctly be considered as synonyms and which characteristic features should words have to be qualified as synonyms

TRADITIONAL LINGUISTICS: CONCEPTUAL CRITERION Synonyms are the words of the same category of parts of speech conveying the same concept but differing either in shades of meaning or in stylistic characteristics

CONTEMPORARY LINGUISTICS: SEMANTIC CRITERION In terms of componential analysis synonyms are defined as words with the same denotation or the same denotative component, but different connotations, or in connotative components

DEFINITIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL ANALYSYS A group of synonyms may be studied with the help of definitional analysys. The data from various dictionaries are analysed comparatively. After that the definitions are subjected to transformational analysys. The semantic components of each analysed word are singled out

DEFINITIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL ANALYSYS VERBS DENOTATION CONNOTATIONS to stare to look steadily, lastingly in suprise, curiousity to glare to look steadily, lastingly in anger, rage, fury to gaze to look steadily, lastingly in tenderness, admiration, wonder to glance to look briefly, in passing to peer to look steadily, lastingly by stealth, through an opening or from a concealed location to peer to look steadily, lastingly with difficulty or strain

CONTEMPORARY LINGUISTICS: THE CRITERION OF INTERCHANGEABILITY Synonyms are defined as words which are interchangeable at least in some contexts without any considerable alteration in denotational meaning. This criterion is being criticized, because each of the synonyms creates a new situation which differs much from the rest, and any attempt at "interchanging" can destroy the utterance devoiding it of any sense of it.

CONTEMPORARY LINGUISTICS: THE CRITERION OF INTERCHANGEABILITY Examples He glazed at her(He looked at her angrily). He gazed at her(He looked at her steadily and attentively, probably with admiration or interest). He glanced at her(He looked at her briefly and turned away). He peered at her ( He tried to see her better, but something prevented: darkness, for etc. ). Synonyms cannot and should not be interchangeable.

CONTEMPORARY LINGUISTICS: THE CRITERION OF INTERCHANGEABILITY But there are some groups of words with half-erased connotations which can readily be substituted one for another. Examples pretty girl good-looking girl beautiful girl These synonyms have common denotation "of pleasing appearance", so they can substitute each other.