Chapter 6 Sense Relations.docVIP

Chapter 6 Sense Relations Words are arbitrary symbols and are independent identities so far as their outer facet ─ orthographical form, is concerned. But semantically, these lexemes are all related in one way or another. A lexeme which is related to other lexemes is related to them in sense, hence sense relations. A lexeme is the fundamental unit of the lexicon of a language, for instance, ‘find, found, and finding’ are members of the English lexeme ‘find.’ The subjects that have long held the interest and attention of semanticists in the field of sense relations are polysemy, homonymy, synonymy, antonymy and hyponymy. Semantic field is commonly felt to be an integral part of sense relations. All of these will be discussed in this Chapter. 6.1 Polysemy 6.1.1 Definition of Polysemy In modern English , an overwhelming majority of words are polysemous. One word may have two or more meanings. 6.1.2 Two Approaches to Polysemy 1) Diachronic Approach From the diachronic point of view, polysemy is assumed to be the result of growth and development of the semantic structure of one and same word. At the time when the word was created, it was endowed with only one meaning. This first meaning is the primary meaning. With the advance of time and the development of language, more and more meanings were attributed to it. These later meanings are called derived meanings as they are all derived from the primary meaning. Take the word ‘face’ for example (based on WNWD) the front of the head the expression of the countenance a surface of a thing the side or surface that is marked, as of a clock, playing card, domino, etc. the appearance; outward aspect; resemblance (CH idiom) dignity; self-respect; prestige, as in lose/save face the topography (of an area) the functional and striking surface (of a tool, golf club, etc.) (Colloq) effrontery; audacity (10) what is shown by the language of a document, without explanation and addition (11) (Mining) the end of a tunnel, drift, etc.