Semantics:

The meanings of
language
Deny A. Kwary
http://www.kwary.net
Airlangga University

Lexical Semantics

Semantic properties: The components of

meaning of a word.
Semantic feature: A notational device for
expressing the presence or absence of
semantic properties by pluses and
minuses.
E.g. baby is [+ young], [+ human], [
abstract].

Example
(a) widow, mother, sister, aunt, maid
(b) widower, father, brother, uncle, valet
The

(a) and (b) words are human

The (a) words are female
The (b) words are male

Exercise # 1, A- D, pp. 222223

A. The (a) and (b) words are male
The (a) words are human
The (b) words are animal
B. The (a) words are [+ count]
The (b) words are [ - count]
C. The (a) words are concrete
The (b) words are abstract
D. The (a) and (b) words are
plant
The (a) words are tree
The (b) words are flower

Lexical Relations (1)

Homophone: Different words pronounced the

same but spelled differently, e.g. two and too.
Homograph: Different words spelled the same
but pronounced differently, e.g. minute and
minute.
Homonym: A word which has two or more
unrelated meanings, e.g. club: a social
organization ; a blunt weapon.
Polisemy: A word which has two or more
related meanings, e.g. bright: shining ;
intelligent

Lexical Relations (2)

Hyponym: Words whose meanings are

specific instances of a more general word,
e.g. isosceles and equilateral are hyponyms
of the word triangle.
Metonym: A word substituted for another
word with which it is closely associated, e.g.
diamond for a baseball field.
Retronym: An expression that would once
have been redundant, but which societal or
technoligical changes have made
nonredundant, e.g. silent movies movies
silent movies

Exercise #4A, Page 224

Lexical Relations (3)

Synonym or Antonym
a.
b.

c.
d.
e.

Flourish thrive
Intelligent
stupid
Casual informal
Flog whip
Drunk sober

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

synonym
antonym
synonym
synonym
antonym

Semantic Ambiguity
An

utterance
which has
more than one
meaning

Exercise #2 a-d, pp. 223224

Exercise #3 a-b, p.224