1. 6
Sense Relations
&
Semantic Field

2. 6. Sense Relations & Semantic Field
Polysemy
Homonymy
Synonymy
Antonymy
Hyponymy
Semantic field

3. 6.1 Polysemy
Polysemy is concerned with words of more than one meaning.
Change of word-meaning
new word = one meaning = monosemous
monosemic
more than one = polysemous
polysemic

4. 6.1 Polysemy How does a word acquire new meanings?
In what way are the meanings related to one another?

5. 6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy
1. Diachronic approach
Example: face: 12 senses
Abstract M Concrete M
(2) (1) (8)
(5) (3) (10)
(6) (4) (11)
(9) (7) (12)

6. 6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy
Polysemy is assumed to be the result of growth and development of the same word.
All the meanings (2)-(12) are derived from (1).
(1)
(2, 3, 4, 5…12)

7. 6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy
2. Synchronic approach
Polysemy is viewed as the coexistence of various meanings of the same word in a certain historical period of time.
The primary meaning is the core or central meaning.
All the rest are secondary.

8. 6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy
Pictorial description of the meanings of face: 3 2
Each derived meaning is directly related to the central meaning. 4 12 5 11 1 10 6 9 7 8
radiation

9. 6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy
There are cases where the central meaning has become less and less current with changes in culture and society, and one of the derived meanings has become dominant.

10. gay (WNWD):
(1) joyous and lively; merry; happy
(2) bright, brilliant
(3) given to social life and pleasure
(4) wanton; licentious
(5) homosexual
The arrangement follows the order of semantic development.

11. gay (LDCE)
(1) homosexual
(2) bright or attractive
(3) cheerful; happy; full of fun

12. (2) lively and enjoyable (person) (3) lively and interesting (place)
gay (CCED, ALD)
(1) homosexual
(2) lively and enjoyable (person)
(3) lively and interesting (place)
(4) bright and pretty (colour)
(5) lively and pleasant (music)
Labour Day, Labour Day, We are happy and gay!

13. 6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy
In some cases, the meaning of a word moves gradually away from its first sense by successive shifts until, in many cases, there is not a sign of connection between the primary sense and the latest sense.

14. Example: treacle
(1) wild beast
(2) remedy for bites of venomous beasts
(3) antidote for poison or remedy for poison
(4) any effective remedy
(5) (BrE) molasses

15. Treacle 1 2 3 4 5
concatenation
linking together

16. 6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy
Radiation and concatenation are closely related, but are different stages of development leading to polysemy.
Generally, radiation precedes concatenation.
In many cases, the two processes work together, complementing each other.

17. 6.1.1 Two Approaches to Polysemy
radiation and concatenation 3c 2 3b 3a 6
Process of meaning development 1 5 4a 4b

18. 6.2 Homonymy

19. 6.2 Homonymy
Homonyms are generally defined as words different in meaning but either
identical both in sound and spelling or
identical only in sound or
identical only in spelling.

20. 6.2.1 Types of Homonyms 1. Perfect homonyms
words identical both in sound and spelling
bark v. （狗）吠
bark n. 树皮
fan n. 扇
fan n. 迷

21. 6.2.1 Types of Homonyms 2. Homographs [homo (same) +graph (writing)]
words identical only in spelling
row v. /r∂u/ 划（船）
row n. /rau/ 喧哗
lead v. /li:d/ 领导
lead n. /led/ 铅

22. 6.2.1 Types of Homonyms 3. Homophones [homo (same) +phone (sound)]
words identical only in sound
air /εə/
heir /εə/ 继承人
cell /sel/ 小房间
sell /sel/

23. 6.2.1 Types of Homonyms
Of the three types, homophones constitute the largest number.

24. 6.2.2 Origins of Homonyms 1. Change in sound and spelling
ear n. 耳 from eare (OE)
ear n. 穗 from ær (OE)

25. 6.2.2 Origins of Homonyms 2. Borrowing ball n. 球 from beallu (OE)
ball n. 舞会 from baller (OF)

26. 6.2.2 Origins of Homonyms 3. Shortening mad
MAD mutually assured destruction
who
WHO World Health Organization

27. 6.2.3 Distinguishing homonyms and Polysemants
1. Source
2. Semantic relatedness

28. 6.2.3 Distinguishing homonyms and Polysemants
(1) same source, different meanings
(2) meanings related
homonyms:
(1) different sources, different meanings
(2) meanings not related

29. 6.2.4 Rhetoric Functions of Homonyms
Homonyms are often employed to create puns for desired effect of humour, sarcasm or ridicule.

30. 6.2.4 Rhetoric Functions of Homonyms
Customer: “How come your sausages taste like meat at one end but like bread at the other?”
Butcher: “Madam, in times like this, no butcher can make both ends meat/meet.”

31. 6.2.4 Rhetoric Functions of Homonyms
A: What colour would you paint the sun and the wind?
B: The sun rose and the wind blue.
The sun rose and the wind blew.

32. 6.2.4 Rhetoric Functions of Homonyms
A: Do you know what happens to lawyers when they die?
B: They lie still.
继续说谎
躺着不动

33. END