Лексикологія / Lecture2

Lecture 2.

SEMASIOLOGY

1. Semasiology as a branch of linguistics.

2. Meaning. Referential and functional approaches to study of meaning. “Basic triangle”.

3. Types of meaning.

4. Polysemy. The semantic structure of polysemantic word.

5. Changing of meaning. Factors of changing of meaning.

6. Types of changing of meaning:

a) extension;

b) narrowing;

c) transference (metaphor and metonymy);

d) evaluation;

e) degradation.

BASIC NOTIONS OF THE LECTURE.

Semasiology - is the branch of linguistics that is devoted to the study of meaning.

Meaning – is a certain reflection in our mind of objects, phenomena or relations, which makes inner-faced part of linguistic sign, the sound form functions as its out-faced part.

There are 2 approaches to meaning.

1. Referential – formulates the essence of meaning by establishing the dependence between words and things and concepts they denote.

2. Functional – studies functions of the word in speech, less concerned with what meaning is, rather with how it works.

All works on the theory of meaning are based on referential approach. The essential feature of this approach is that it distinguishes between 3 components, closely connected with meaning:

• The sound form of the sign

• The concept, underlining this sound form

• The actual referent – aspect of reality to which the linguistic sign refers.

The referential model of meaning is called “basic triangle”. It underlines the semantic system of all principles of this school.

DOVE

Concept (bird)

Sound form Referent (a particular bird – голуб)

Sound form of the linguistic sign “dove” is connected with our concept of the bird, which denotes the actual referent.

So, the common feature of referential approach is implication that meaning is in some case connected with the referent.

Functional approach claims that a linguistic study of meaning is the investigation of the relation of sign to sign only. The meaning of linguistic units may be studied through their relation to other linguistic units, not through relation to concept or referent.

So, meanings of words “move” and “movement” are different because they function in speech differently.

Types of meaning.

1. Grammatical – is a component of meaning, recurrent in identical sets of individual forms of words (e.g. plural of nouns, Past Indefinite etc.).

2. Lexical meaning has denotational and connotational components.

The denotational component expresses notional content of a word and makes communication possible.

Denotation – expression of main meaning, meaning proper of a linguistic unit, in contrast to its connotation.

Connotational component – additional semantic meaning.

Types of connotation:

• Emotive

• Evaluative

• Connotation of duration and cause.

Connotation – supplementary meaning and stylistic shade that is added to the word’s main meaning and express all sorts of emotional, expressive overtones.

A word having several meanings is called polysemantic.

The ability of words to have more than one meaning is named polysemy.

The system of meanings of every polysemantic word develops gradually, over the centuries. As more meanings are added, some of old meanings may be lost.

There are 2 levels of analysis of semantic structure of polysemantic words.

1. The semantic structure of a word is treated as the system of meanings.

E.g.: fire – 1) flame (полум’я)

2) an instance of destructive burning (пожежа)

3) burning material in the stove, fireplace (вогонь)

4) the shooting of guns (артилерійський вогонь)

5) strong feeling, passion

6) strong pain.

Meaning 1 is a dominant, describes concept in the most general way, other meanings are associated with special aspects of the same phenomenon. Meaning 1 is a centre of semantic structure and is the main meaning. Meanings 2-6 are secondary meanings and can be associated with one another.

2. Each meaning can be divided into semantic components.

CHANGING OF MEANING

Word meaning changes in the course of historical development of language under the influence of extralinguistic and linguistic factors.

Extralinguistic factors – changes in the life of speech community, changes in economic and social structure, ideas, way of life as reflected in a word meaning.

E.g.: car – any 4-wheeled wagon

motor-car

Linguistic factors – development of language system itself.

E.g.: deer – O.E. any animal

Modern E. “олень”.

Types of changing of meaning.

1. Extension – extension of a word range, when the exact denotation is lost and the word’s meaning extends and is generalized.

It is often due to resemblance of form, position, colour, similarity of function. It is change from concrete to abstract, from specific to general.

E.g.: country – сільська місцевість - країна

To fly – махати крилами – літати.

New meaning is wider and more abstract.

2. Narrowing – a word of wide meaning gets narrower, specialized sense. Its usage is restricted to some objects.

E.g.: corpse – будь-яке тіло - труп

field – поле – галузь.

3. Transference (metaphor and metonymy).

   1. Metaphor – transference of name, based on association of similarity.

A new meaning appears as a result of associating 2 objects due to their outer similarity.

Metaphor is based on different types of similarity.

E.g.: a head of a cabbage (shape)

Long distance – long speech (duration of time and space)

Short line – short time (duration of time and space)

Transition of proper names into common:

Don Juan, Adonys, Narcissus, Cleopatra, Hercules, Don Quixote.

2. Metonymy – transference of meaning based upon association of contiguity.

The name of one thing is changed for the name of another thing to which it is related by association.

The transference may be influenced by many relations:

Spatial: house – House of Commons, chair – chairman, department, cash – safe.

Causial: youth – young people, old age – old people.

Symbolic: the British Crown – monarchy, White House – US president, Capitol - US Congress, Fort Knox – US gold.

Instrumental: hand – handwriting.

Common names derived from proper: diesel, mackintosh.

4. Elevation – changes depending on the attitude to the object named, connected with social evaluation. It is change from humble meaning to position of greater importance.

E.g.: fond: foolish – loving

Nice: foolish – fine

Lord: master of the house – title

Lady: mistress of the house – title.

5. Degradation – change by which for one reason or another a word falls into a derogatory emotive change.

A change in denotational component brings extension or restriction of meaning.

A change in connotational component results in elevation or degradation of meaning.

E.g.: knave: boy – thief

Villain – peasant – servant – rascal

Bubble – булькати – бубоніти нерозбірливо