Language in Text & Reading Comprehension Synonymy

Synonymy is identity of meaning synonymous lexemes happygladcheerful sadunhappysorrowful

But, these are not synonyms. cheerfulness sorrowful happily glad sadness unhappily

These, however, are synonyms: happy : glad : cheerful happiness : gladness : cheerfulness happily: gladly: cherfully unhappy : sad: sorrowful unhappiness : sadness : sorrowfulness unhappily : sadly : sorrowfully

Types TypesSynonymy 1 Absolute Synonymy 2 Complete Synonymy 3 Referential Synonymy Descriptive Synonymy Cognitive Synonymy

1. Absolute Synonymy The lexemes should have “the same distribution” and should be “completely synonymous in all their meanings and contexts of occurrence.” (Lyons 148)The lexemes should have “the same distribution” and should be “completely synonymous in all their meanings and contexts of occurrence.” (Lyons 148) Absolutely synonymous lexemes are nearly non-existant.Absolutely synonymous lexemes are nearly non-existant. This type is “restricted to highly specialized vocabulary” such as medicine or biology. (ibid.) (example 1)This type is “restricted to highly specialized vocabulary” such as medicine or biology. (ibid.) (example 1)

Example 1 caecitis = typhlitis inflammation of the blind gut inflammation of the blind gut

What about the following pairs? 1. radio / wireless 2. aerodrome / airfield Are they absolutely synonymous?

2. Complete Synonymy The synonyms should have “the same descriptive, expressive and social meaning.” (ibid.)The synonyms should have “the same descriptive, expressive and social meaning.” (ibid.) Completely synonymous lexemes are rare.Completely synonymous lexemes are rare. Example 2: Example 2: nearly : almost

What about the following? 1. broad / wide 2. lavatory / toilet / loo / WC Are they completely synonymous?

3. Descriptive Synonymy It is referred to as cognitive synonymy or referential synonymy.It is referred to as cognitive synonymy or referential synonymy. It stands for lexemes that have approximately the same meaning.It stands for lexemes that have approximately the same meaning. Example 3: father / dad / daddy / pop father / dad / daddy / pop

Conclusion 1. Synonymy = descriptive synonymy = referential synonymy = referential synonymy = cognitive synonymy = cognitive synonymy 2. Complete synonymy: rare 3. Absolute synonymy: almost non- existant

Works Consulted Leech, Geoffrey. Semantics: The Study of Meaning. London: Penguin Books, 1981.Leech, Geoffrey. Semantics: The Study of Meaning. London: Penguin Books, Lyons, John. Language and Linguistics: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press, 1992.Lyons, John. Language and Linguistics: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press, 1992.