词汇学

Synonyms concey a similar concept but there are shades of meaning between them,for example, some words have a wider range of meaning than others.There are two pictures can illustrate the relationship between such kind of synonyms.
brother － fraternall (n.－ adv.) ×
Types Types of Synonyms
Absolute synonyms
(complete synonyms) (绝对同义）
Relative synonyms
(near-synonyms) （相对同义）
Types
Absolute synonyms are words which are identical(完全相同的）in meaning in all its aspect,
2. Difference in Stylistic Features 文体方面不同
There are some relative synonyms which share the same denotation(意义相同)， but differ in their stylistic appropriateness(文体方面不同).
begin answer wood time
—— commence —— respond —— forest —— age —— epoch
【native】 ＜ 【French】 ＜ 【Latin】
Example :“警察”
policeman
constable
bobby
cop
Br. English & Am. English
Relative synonyms,also called by some people near-synonyms,are similar or nearly the same in denotation,but embrace（包含） different shades of meaning or different degrees of a given quality.（相对同义词又叫近似同义词，指词的指示 意义基本相同或相似，但隐含意义或表达程度不同）
同义词可以被定义为在发音和拼写上不同。 但在意义上基本相似或完全相同。 Reasnable as it sounds, this definition is subject to disagressment. The focal point is what is meant by meaning.Meaning is a composite （合成物） consisting of different types.
i.e. both in grammatical(符合语法规则的）meaning and lexical(词汇的）meaning including conceptual(概念上的）and associative meanings.(绝对同义词是指各个方面的意义均相同 的词，及语法意义和词汇意义（包括概念意义和关联意义）都 相同的词。） Synonyms of this type are interchangeable（可互换的） in every way. Absolute synonyms , if any（如果有的话）， are restricted to highly specialized vocabulary,such as: caecitis----typhlitis（盲肠炎） composition----compounding in medicine in lexicology.
Definition
Synonyms can be defined as words different in sound and spelling but most nearly alike or exactly the same in meaning. Reasonable as it sounds,this definition is subject to disagreement.
Native
room foe begin help
Foreign
chamber enemy commence aid
2)Dialects and regional English(地域性语言和方言）
railway(BrE) railroad(AmE)
3)Figurative and euphemistic use of word
extend 延伸，扩大
increase 增加
expand 扩张
Synonyms may differ in degree of intensity.
examples: rich < wealthy want < wish < desire big < large < huge suprise < amaze < astound
6.3
Synonymy
Designed by 427
Outline
Definition of Synonyms Types of Synonyms
Sources of Synonyms Discrimination of Synonyms
Synonymy
Synonymy is one of the characteristic features of the vocabulary of natural languages English as a highly developed language is known for its copious （丰富的，很多的）stock of synonyms. 同义关系是自然语言中词汇的特点之一。英语是相当 发达的语言，也富含同义词。
( 'attractively' and 'pleasantly' small ) ( an appreciative term; neutral; 'not big') ( extremely small; implying the abnormal growth of the child )
(词的比喻和委婉用法）
occupation(profession)
walk of life(fig)
4)Coincidence with idiomatic expressions
(单词与习惯表达在意义上的隔阂）
win
gain the upper hand
Within the native element,words are also found to express similar meanings such as fast--speedy--swift,handsome--pretty--lovely.
4.Discrimination
Generally speaking, there is no difference between absolute synonyms, but relative synonyms always differ in one way or another.
We can discriminate relative synonyms from four aspects 1.Difference in Range and Intensity of Meanin 语义范围与强度的不同
Br. English
colloquial(通俗的，白话的) slangy used only in Br. English (俚语的)
stylistically neutral
Standard
anger
happiness
listen
enough
except
old-fashioned and archaic
Example 1
result
( affectively neutral )
good / bad result
consequence
Example 2
( always has a negative implication )
Look at that little / small / tiny boy. little small tiny
close
end gradually
Definition
A better definition might be 'one of two or more words in the English language which have the same or very nearly the same essential meaning'. 更好的定义可以是“在英语语言里，两个或多个 词有相同或非常相近的本质意义”。 In other words,synonyms share a likeness in denotation as well as part of speech,for a verb cannot have an adjective as its synonym. Simmilarly, an adverb cannot take a noun as its synonym. end － final (v.－ adj.)×
To change a thing is to put another thing in its place; To alter a thing is to make ti different from which it was before; To vary a thing is to alter it in different maBaidu Nhomakorabeaner and at different times; A man change his habits, alters his conduct,and varies his manner of speaking.
Example: change--alter--vary
3.Sources of synonyms
1)Borrowing
Modern English is extremely rich in
synonyms,which come from different sources.The most important is perhaps borrowing.As a result of borrowing,words of native origin form many couplets(双词 模式）and triplets(三词模式）with those from other languages. e.g.
Definition
If one chooses any group of synonyms and analyses them, one will find different shades of meaning.
For example: modes of ending
end
terminate
end finally
ire
bliss
list
enow
save
can be found in poety, earlier writings or perhaps in legal documents
【less formal】
惯用表达 它们的单个单词表达
【more formal】
3. Difference in Emotive Colouring 感情色彩不同
help understand comprehend
aid
Another illustrative example is the synonymous group of extend,increase,expand, which share a general sense of enlargement but have conceptual differences.