Can you work out what the term “semantic field” might mean? Key Question: What are “semantic fields,” and how do they affect meaning? Starter Can you work out what the term “semantic field” might mean? Read the following text, paying close attention to descriptive and metaphorical language. Are there any metaphorical/figurative/symbolic themes running through this passage? Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear, Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand, And, touching hers, make blessèd my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty ‘til this night.

E.g. “Red,” “blue,” “purple” all belong to the semantic field of… What are “semantic fields,” and how do they affect meaning? Semantic Field: An area, or field, of meaning, and the words associated with that field. Semantic fields contains words with related senses. E.g. “Red,” “blue,” “purple” all belong to the semantic field of… Sense: The full range of meaning a word can have within a language. The sense of “red” is the way we understand it within its semantic field – similar to orange; different to black and white; inclusive of shades such as burgundy, scarlet, crimson… The full range of these sense relations gives you the sense of “red.”

What are “semantic fields,” and how do they affect meaning? So, which semantic fields are being used in the passage from Shakespeare? What effect does drawing on these semantic fields have? Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear, Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand, And, touching hers, make blessèd my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty ‘til this night. Note that in, order to speak of the “sense” of a word, we have to make socio-cultural (or contextual) judgements/comments.

What are “semantic fields,” and how do they affect meaning? Homophone (lit. “same sound”): Two words with different spellings and meanings, but which are pronounced indentically. *** Hyponym (“hypo-” under): A word whose sense/meaning is included in that of a broader, “umbrella” term. E.g., “daisy” is a hyponym of “flower.” The abstract noun form is “hyponymy.” Hypernym (“hyper-” over): A term that includes the senses/meanings of its hyponyms. Meronym: A term which is included in a larger, inclusive term, because the meronym is a part of the whole. E.g. “page,” “cover,” “spine” are meronyms of “book.” Abstract noun: meronymy. Colour (hypernym) Red (hyponym)

What are “semantic fields,” and how do they affect meaning? Synonymy, polysemy, and metaphor are relevant to the study and notion of semantic field. But why, or how? One word may, due to synonymy and/or polysemy and/or metaphorical usage, belong to more than one semantic field. Mad SF field of fun, humour; even friendship or adolescence SF of mental illness/insanity SF of anger SF of anger

Attrition, sudden death, barbed-wire entanglements, defence, threat What are “semantic fields,” and how do they affect meaning? These words come from one text. From which semantic field does the writer draw these words? Attrition, sudden death, barbed-wire entanglements, defence, threat Based on your previous answer, what might the text be about? What kind of text do you think these words have been drawn from? What other topics might writers explore or depict, using the semantic field of war?

Read the newspaper report they come from Read the newspaper report they come from. Discuss how and why the reporter has drawn on the semantic field of war to create these metaphors.

Analagous: Comparable to (in terms of dynamics, structure etc.). What are “semantic fields,” and how do they affect meaning? Semantic fields often establish or suggest a metaphorical or analogical relationship between the topic being discussed and the semantic field used to describe/depict/explain the topic. Analagous: Comparable to (in terms of dynamics, structure etc.). For example: Rugby matches are sometimes likened to ancient Greek or Roman battles. Why?

What are “semantic fields,” and how do they affect meaning? What are the following abstract nouns sometimes likened to? From which semantic fields do the analogies/metaphors draw? War Sport Love Evil Beauty Kindness (Good) Judgement

What are “semantic fields,” and how do they affect meaning? Write a description of the school, or of a bike-ride, run, walk... Any day-to-day activity, using a particular semantic field. Write a very brief rationale – why you chose this semantic field (e.g. to establish a metaphorical/analogical relationship...), and include a useful word or phrase bank.