Types of meaning

The branch of linguistics concerned with the meaning of words and word equivalents is called semasiology. So we can say that semasiology studies the lexical meaning of the word. The two main types of word meaning are the grammatical and lexical meanings found in all words. Grammatical meaning may be defined as the component of the meaning recurrent in identical sets of individual forms of different words thus we speak about voice, tense, case, mood and the meaning of plurality. The lexical meaning of the word which may be described as the component of meaning proper to the word as a linguistic unit that is recurrent in all forms of this word and in all possible distributions of these forms. The majority of scholars agree that lexical meaning is a realization of a concept or emotion by means of a definite language system.

The lexico-grammatical meaning is the common denomination of all the meanings of words belonging to a lexico-grammatical class of words. Such words are characterized by a common system of forms in which the grammatical categories are expressed.

Lexical meaning and its aspects. There are three aspects of lexical meaning: 1.) denotational 2.) connotational 3.) pragmatic. The first one is the most important, it refers to the notional basis of the information. This info is conveyed from the speaker to the listener. EG: 1.) I’ll bring the book, don’t worry. 2.) I’ll bring the revolver, don’t worry. In this sentences the subject matter of communication is different. This aspect of meaning helps to realize the nominal function of the language. The connotational aspect present the attitude of the speaker to what he is speaking about. It’s additional information. EG: 1.) Jack assured us that the play was interesting. 2.) Jack said that for him the play was interesting. In N1 we are absolutely sure that the play is interesting. In N2 our attitude is different: the play is interesting for him, as for the rest we are not sure of that. The connotational aspect includes emotive charge, evaluation, expressiveness and imagery. Emotive charge may be shown by the words notorious. EG: 1.) He is famous for his books! 2.) He is notorious for his goings-on. In the second sentence by using the word “notorious” we disapprove of this person of his behavior.

Evaluation may be positive and negative. EG: aunty (тетушка) dog of a person (плохое поведение)

Expressiveness makes the effect produced on the listener stronger. EG: I saw a large snake. I saw a huge snake (“huge” denote very large. The effect is stranger)

Imagery is connected with our figurative understanding of the situation. EG: the prime-minister of the two countries tried to bridge the gap of misunderstanding, between the two countries.

In most cases all this elements of connotation are linked together, EG: (low col. – снижение разг. речи) You are an ass, Jack (ну и задница ты Джек)

The pragmatic aspect of lexical meaning gives about the situation of communication and about its participants. EG: we can learn about time and space relationships.

The core of this information is given by grammar tenses, but some information can be given by the semantics of the word. The pronoun “this” in the combination “this country” indicates the country speaker is at the moment. EG: (In this country English is learnt everywhere) !!! So, all these aspects are realized in our speech.