现代英语词汇学概论最强版复习资料chapter5.docx

Chapter 5 Word meaning and Semantic Features 词义与语义特征n 5.1 Conventionality and Motivation 约定俗成与有理据词n 5.2 Main Types of Word Meaning 词义的分类n 5.3 Componential Analysis and Semantic Features 语义成分分析与语义特征5.1 Conventionality and Motivation 约定俗成与有理据词The sound and meaning of words relatedTwo ways:1. Conventionality 约定俗成Most English words are conventional, arbitrary symbol.Arbitrary: adj. decided by or based on chance or personal opinion rather than facts or reason.Conventional or arbitrary: there is no intrinsic relation between the sound-symbol and its sense.Eg. English house French maison Chinese fángzi Russian dom Spanish casa 2. Motivation 有理据词Motivation: refers to the connection between word-symbol and its sense.n Phonetic motivation语音理据Phonetic motivation: pronunciation suggests the meaning, including echoic words or onomatopoeic wordsE.g. woof-woof the woof-woof of a dogmiaow the miaow of a catroar the roar of a lionbang the bang of a door n Morphological motivation 形态理据Morphological motivation: there is a direct connection between the morphemic structure of the word and its meaning.E.g. anticancer 抗癌的 kilogram 公斤，千克good-looking 好看的，美貌的daydream 白日梦，做白日梦n Semantic motivation 语义理据Semantic motivation: The figurative meaning can be understood by those who know the literal meaning.E.g. a stony heart 铁石心肠，冷酷无情the leg of a table 桌子的腿5.2 Main Types of Word Meaning 词义的分类Types of Word Meaning: A. Grammatical meaning语法意义B. Lexical meaning 词汇意义n A. Grammatical meaning 1. word-class词类: The word-class determines the position that a word normally occupies in a sentenceEg. Being a child, he cant understand what he just said. He never dreams of being a superstar. 2. inflectional paradigm词形变化:Eg. seasons of a year 一年四季 the poles 南北两极 cat cats mouse mice walk walks walked write wrote written n B. Lexical meaning 1. Denotative meaning外延意义(conceptual meaning概念意义)Denotative meaning involves the relationship between a linguistic unit (esp. a lexical item )and the non-linguistic entities (physical objects, natural phenomena / things, events, processes) to which a word refersThe denotative meaning of a words definition given in a dictionary Eg. chairchair: a piece of furniture for one person to sit on, which usually ahs a back, a seat, four legs, and sometimes armsthe same meaning for all speakers of a given communityIt is that aspect of lexical meaning which makes communication possible. ® the central factor in linguistic communication2. Connotative meaning内涵意义Connotative meaning: the emotional association which a word or a phrase suggests in ones mind. E.g. motherdenotative meaning: female parent connotative meaning: love, care, warmTwo levels of connotationl Connotations pertaining to individualsbased on personal experience e.g. fatherl Connotations pertaining to a group e.g. communist, road, Uncle Sam3. Social or stylistic meaning 社会或文体意义l Social meaning: a piece of language conveys about the social circumstance of its use. One adjusted ones language so as to make it appropriate in various situation in terms of :(1) the social relationship between the speakers or correspondents (friend to friend ,professor to student )(2) the occasion (a class reunion or an official reception )(3) subject matter(about serious political issues or about films ,swimming or food )(4) the mode of discourse (spoken or written )l Stylistic meaning Consultative style is a polite and fairy neutral style ;its used when we are talking to a person whom we do not know well ,or to someone who is senior to ourselves in terms of age or social position . Casual style is used in conversion between friends or in personal letter when the language is informal ,familiar ,relaxed ,warm and friendly .l the criterion of formality: formal, neutral and informal 4. Affective meaning情感意义 Affective meaning is concerned with the expression of feelings and attitudes of speaker or writer.snarl words show disapproval or contempt on the part of the speaker . derogatory (derog.)E.g. gang, niggardly purr wordsexpress the speaker 's approval of the person or thing he is talking about . appreciatory (apprec.)E.g. scholar, masterpiece, generous Summary1.Denotative or conceptual meaningThe central factor in linguistic communication 2.Connotative meaningRefers to the associations that a word suggests in ones mind 3.Social or stylistic meaningConveys the social circumferences of language use 4.Affective meaningExpresses the feelings and attitude of the speaker5.3 Componential Analysis and Semantic Features 语义成分分析与语义特征l Componential analysis on the basis of semantic contrast Componential analysis: A process of breaking down the sense of a word into its minimal components (semantic features).n Man Man: +Hunan +Adult +Malen Child Child: +Human -Adult +Malen Cow Cow: +Bovine +Adult -Malen Lamb Lamb: +Ovine -Adult +Malen Boar Boar: +Porcine +Adult -Male 现代英语词汇学概论最强版复习资料chapter5l Advantages and disadvantages of componential analysis Ø Advantages:1) Enable us to have an exact knowledge of the conceptual meaning of a word2) Help us to choose the right word or collocationØ Disadvantages:1) The impossibility of making a list of the infinite number of semantic features.2) The analysis of word meaning into its sense components is not enough.3) Many words are often used figuratively without observing the normal “usage rules”