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As a technical term in semantics, the word of meaning should have its definition. However, it is a controversial issue and so far there is no agreement at this point among linguists.
Generally, we say a linguistic form has two types of meaning: denotation and connotation. Denotative meaning: the person, object, abstract notion, event, or state which the word denotes. E.g. Sofa, John’s car, perplexity, Robert is lying on the bed. Connotative meaning: the overtones (implications) of meaning, that is what the linguistic form suggests. E.g. A B C slim thin skinny strong-minded firm pig-headed Public servant government employee bureaucrat investigator detective spy Decease die pegged out statesman politician
1894 it was introduced in a paper entitled “Reflected meanings: a point in semantics” 1897 Breal first used it as the science of meaning. 1900 its English version came out 1980s semantics began to be introduced into China One of the most famous books on semantics is The Meaning of Meaning published in 1923. Leech. G.N. Semantics. London: Penguin Books Ltd, 1974. Palmer. F.R. Semantics. Cambridge: CUP, 1976.
Notes: 1) some words do not have negative connotations when they are used generally. But in some texts they may have additional meaning. (contextspecific) e.g. when “boy” is used by a 20-year-old white man to a 40-year-old black man, it obviously has a negative connotation reflecting the attitude of the speaker. 2) some words or phrases always have negative associations. E.g. the number “4” in Chinese, “13” in English 3) connotation is language-specific
e.g. propaganda (dissemination of some ideas it has the meaning of exaggerating and even falsifying some facts) imperialism (negative to Chinese, but neutral even positive to westerners “Imperial Inn” “Imperial Hotel”) what about “turtle”, “dragon” “communism”? 4) semantics will mainly deal with denotative meaning, rather than connotative meaning
e) collocative meaning what is communicated through association with words which tend to occur in the environment of another word. E.g. rotten (general) addled eggs, rancid bacon and butter, sour milk, putrid fish, fetid breath. What about “on” in “turn on”, “jump on”?
c) affective meaning feelings and attitudes of the speaker/writer mother (love, care) maternal parent (neutral) d) reflected meaning the meaning when we associate one sense of an expression with another. e.g. “dear”
History: In linguistics, compared with other branches we have discussed, semantics is very young and new. But it also has a long history. “Cinderella of linguistics” (Kempson) The term semantics is a recent addition to the English language. It has only a history of a little over a hundred years.
a) connotative meaning communicative value attributed to an expression over and above its purely conceptual meaning. “woman” unappreciable properties: frail, prone to tears, cowardly, irrational, inconstant, short-sighted virtues: gentle, hardworking, sensitive b) social meaning what is communicated of the social circumstances of language use, including variations like dialect, time, topic, style etc. E.g. “thou” “ 管” used in Northern part of Anhui province.
Outline: 1. Definition of semantics
2. What is meaning? 3. Different kinds of meaning 4. Major theories on the study of meaning 5. Sense relationship between words 6. Sense relations between sentences 7. Analysis of meaning (componential analysis, predication analysis)
3. Different kinds of meaning G. Leech(1974) “Semantics” Leech’s seven types of meaning 1. Conceptual meaning also called “denotative” or “cognitive” meaning. This refers to the definition given in the dictionary. It is widely assumed to be the central factor in linguistic communication and is integral to the essential functioning of language. Man [+Human] [+Male] [+Adult] Girl [+Human] [-Male] [-Adult]
1. What is Semantics ?
Semantics is generally considered to be the study of meaning in language.
Dating from Plato, the study of meaning has a long history. Philosophers, psychologists, and sociologists all claim a deep interest in the study of meaning, although they differ in their focus of interest. Philosophers: the relation between linguistic expression and what they refer to in the real world and evaluation of the truth value of it. Psychologists: understanding the working of human mind through language.
Semantics
Objectives: getting students to understand 1) semantics and the theory of meaning. 2) Leech’s seven types of meaning; semantic triangle, 3) sense relations between words and sentences
2. what is meaning?
What does “imperialism” mean? (signify) I didn't mean to hurt you. (intend) Life without faith has no meaning. (value) I know the guy you mean. (refer to ) He doesn't’t know the meaning of the word “fear”(sense) Ten dollars would mean a lot to me. (matter) I found a road that wasn’t meant to be there.(supposed to) Perhaps you are meant to become a journalist rather than a lawyer.(destined)
2. Associative meaning meaning associated with the conceptual meaning which can be further divided into following types: a) connotative meaning b) social meaning c) affective meaning d) reflected meaning e) collocative meaning 3. Thematic meaning
As a technical term in semantics, the word of meaning should have its definition. However, it is a controversial issue and so far there is no agreement at this point among linguists.
Generally, we say a linguistic form has two types of meaning: denotation and connotation. Denotative meaning: the person, object, abstract notion, event, or state which the word denotes. E.g. Sofa, John’s car, perplexity, Robert is lying on the bed. Connotative meaning: the overtones (implications) of meaning, that is what the linguistic form suggests. E.g. A B C slim thin skinny strong-minded firm pig-headed Public servant government employee bureaucrat investigator detective spy Decease die pegged out statesman politician
1894 it was introduced in a paper entitled “Reflected meanings: a point in semantics” 1897 Breal first used it as the science of meaning. 1900 its English version came out 1980s semantics began to be introduced into China One of the most famous books on semantics is The Meaning of Meaning published in 1923. Leech. G.N. Semantics. London: Penguin Books Ltd, 1974. Palmer. F.R. Semantics. Cambridge: CUP, 1976.
Notes: 1) some words do not have negative connotations when they are used generally. But in some texts they may have additional meaning. (contextspecific) e.g. when “boy” is used by a 20-year-old white man to a 40-year-old black man, it obviously has a negative connotation reflecting the attitude of the speaker. 2) some words or phrases always have negative associations. E.g. the number “4” in Chinese, “13” in English 3) connotation is language-specific
e.g. propaganda (dissemination of some ideas it has the meaning of exaggerating and even falsifying some facts) imperialism (negative to Chinese, but neutral even positive to westerners “Imperial Inn” “Imperial Hotel”) what about “turtle”, “dragon” “communism”? 4) semantics will mainly deal with denotative meaning, rather than connotative meaning
e) collocative meaning what is communicated through association with words which tend to occur in the environment of another word. E.g. rotten (general) addled eggs, rancid bacon and butter, sour milk, putrid fish, fetid breath. What about “on” in “turn on”, “jump on”?
c) affective meaning feelings and attitudes of the speaker/writer mother (love, care) maternal parent (neutral) d) reflected meaning the meaning when we associate one sense of an expression with another. e.g. “dear”
History: In linguistics, compared with other branches we have discussed, semantics is very young and new. But it also has a long history. “Cinderella of linguistics” (Kempson) The term semantics is a recent addition to the English language. It has only a history of a little over a hundred years.
a) connotative meaning communicative value attributed to an expression over and above its purely conceptual meaning. “woman” unappreciable properties: frail, prone to tears, cowardly, irrational, inconstant, short-sighted virtues: gentle, hardworking, sensitive b) social meaning what is communicated of the social circumstances of language use, including variations like dialect, time, topic, style etc. E.g. “thou” “ 管” used in Northern part of Anhui province.
Outline: 1. Definition of semantics
2. What is meaning? 3. Different kinds of meaning 4. Major theories on the study of meaning 5. Sense relationship between words 6. Sense relations between sentences 7. Analysis of meaning (componential analysis, predication analysis)
3. Different kinds of meaning G. Leech(1974) “Semantics” Leech’s seven types of meaning 1. Conceptual meaning also called “denotative” or “cognitive” meaning. This refers to the definition given in the dictionary. It is widely assumed to be the central factor in linguistic communication and is integral to the essential functioning of language. Man [+Human] [+Male] [+Adult] Girl [+Human] [-Male] [-Adult]
1. What is Semantics ?
Semantics is generally considered to be the study of meaning in language.
Dating from Plato, the study of meaning has a long history. Philosophers, psychologists, and sociologists all claim a deep interest in the study of meaning, although they differ in their focus of interest. Philosophers: the relation between linguistic expression and what they refer to in the real world and evaluation of the truth value of it. Psychologists: understanding the working of human mind through language.
Semantics
Objectives: getting students to understand 1) semantics and the theory of meaning. 2) Leech’s seven types of meaning; semantic triangle, 3) sense relations between words and sentences
2. what is meaning?
What does “imperialism” mean? (signify) I didn't mean to hurt you. (intend) Life without faith has no meaning. (value) I know the guy you mean. (refer to ) He doesn't’t know the meaning of the word “fear”(sense) Ten dollars would mean a lot to me. (matter) I found a road that wasn’t meant to be there.(supposed to) Perhaps you are meant to become a journalist rather than a lawyer.(destined)
2. Associative meaning meaning associated with the conceptual meaning which can be further divided into following types: a) connotative meaning b) social meaning c) affective meaning d) reflected meaning e) collocative meaning 3. Thematic meaning