1. Semantics Semantics = the study of word meanings From Greek: semantikos = having significance sema = a sign

2. Signs: Icons and Symbols Some signs look like the thing they refer to. These are called icons. E.g.

3. Icon

6. Symbols Other signs have no obvious connection with what they refer to – these are called symbols. A symbol is either arbitrary or abstract. Here are some symbols. What do they mean? How do you know?

7. symbol

8. Symbol

10. Question... Are words icons or symbols?

11. A is for Apple

12. apple the French call it pomme the Germans call it apfel the Spanish call it manzana the Italians call it mela the Chinese call it pingguo

13. Sounds and Letters How many letters are there in apple? How many syllables are there in apple? How many sounds are there in apple? Does each letter represent a sound? Why is apple spelled the way it is?

14. Imagine an apple What colour is it? Does it have a stem and leaves? Is it shiny or dull? What angle are you seeing it from – the top, the bottom or the side? Is it whole or has someone taken a bite out of it?

15. Denotation Collins English Dictionary apple = 1. a rosaceous tree, Malus pumila (or Pyrus malus), widely cultivated in temperate regions in many varieties, having pink or white fragrant flowers and firm rounded edible fruits. 2. the fruit of this tree, having red, yellow or green skin and crisp whitish flesh. 3. the wood of this tree....

16. Connotations?

20. WORDDENOTATIONCONNOTATIONS apple Firm, juicy fruit that grows on trees healthy, natural …