NewArchive / 22 - Word meaning

22 - Word meaning. Attempts at defining it (main approaches).

Meaning is a fuzzy (unclear) term, hard to define

Kubrikova: meaning is a concept, captured by a sign in the process of naming.

The lexical meaning of a word is the realization of a notion by means of a definite language system. A word is a language unit, while a notion is a unit of thinking.

The term «notion» was introduced into lexicology from logics. A notion denotes the reflection in the mind of real objects and phenomena in their relations. Notions, as a rule, are international, especially with the nations of the same cultural level, while meanings can be nationally limited. Grouping of meanings in the semantic structure of a word is determined by the whole system of every language.

The number of meanings does not correspond to the number of words, neither does the number of notions. Their distribution in relation to words is peculiar in every language. Development of lexical meanings in any language is influenced by the whole network of ties and relations between words and other aspects of the language.

Approaches to defining Lex. Mng:

Referential approach (by Morris and Frege): is based on the semantic triangle that shows relations between the sign-concept-word. There’s no direct connection between the sign & the mng. of the W. Real objects don’t belong to linguistic studies. Content is a unit of lexicology, mng. belongs to the language. The concepts are more or less the same for the humanity for a certain period of time. The mngs. are different in languages, but the concepts are more or less the same.

Mng – is the info conveyed from the speaker to the listener, it remains stable if we have adequate translation from one L. to another.

“-“: it’s not easy to correctly guess the direct referent; some Ws have no referent at all; some objects have several different names.

concept (information in the mind)

word referent (smth that we name)

The meaning in this version is described as the relation between epics of the trianle.

2 more points were added to the triangle!!! => PENTAGON

- interpretanta (contex + cognitive knowledge) lion's Heart, lion's share, lion's mouth

- relation with other words (mug, glass...)

Functional approach (Wittgenstein):

Mng = W’s use, the number of usages = the number of mngs.

EG: deep: see wound, sleep, purple

Operational approach:

mng through its role in communication.

Info conveyed from the speaker to the listener =>deals with sentenses => mng => info

“-“This approach fails to draw a line between direct sense & implication of W.

Ostensional: learning the meaning by pointing at the object