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    Semantics Discussion

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    Semantics Discussion

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    Semantics-discussion

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    Semantics Discussion

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    carenestremos17

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 4

    Semantics

    Semantics is the study of meaning in language. It focuses on how words, phrases, and sentences
    convey meaning.

    Conceptual Meaning: Refers to the literal, core meaning of a word.


    Example: The conceptual meaning of "dog" is a domesticated animal that barks.

    Associative Meaning: Refers to the personal or cultural associations related to a word, which
    may vary.
    Example: "Dog" might associate with loyalty, protection, or even fear depending on one's
    experience.

    Semantic Features
    Semantic features are basic characteristics or components of meaning that help define a word's
    sense. They are often represented as binary features (e.g., +/-).

    Example: For the word "woman," features include [+human], [+female], [+adult]. For "man," features
    are [+human], [-male], [-adult].

    Semantic Roles
    Semantic roles describe the functions of entities within an action or event.
    Agent: The one who performs an action.
    Example: In "The chef cooked a meal," the agent is the chef.

    Theme: The entity affected by the action.


    Example: In "She moved the chair," the theme is the chair.

    Instrument: The tool or means used to perform an action.


    Example: In "He wrote with a pen," the instrument is the pen.

    Experiencer: The entity experiencing a feeling or perception.


    Example: In "She heard the music," the experiencer is she.

    Location: The place where an event happens.


    Example: In "They met at the park," the location is the park.

    Source: The starting point of an action or movement.


    Example: In "She walked from the library," the source is the library.

    Goal: The endpoint or destination of an action.


    Example: In "He went to the store," the goal is the store.
    Lexical Relationships
    Lexical relationships highlight how words are connected or related to each other in meaning.

    Synonymy: Words with similar meanings.


    Example: "Big" and "large."
    Antonymy: Words with opposite meanings.
    Example: "Hot" and "cold."
    Polysemy: A word with multiple related meanings.
    Example: "Bank" (a financial institution and the side of a river)
    “book” – to reserve, a written work
    “head” – body part, leader of a group, head of the family (father)
    Homonymy: Words that sound alike but have different meanings.
    Example: “lie” – to recline, to not tell the truth
    “well” – a source of water, an adverb meaning ‘in a good way’
    Homograph: Words spelled the same but have different meanings or pronunciations.
    Example: "Lead" (to guide) and "lead" (a type of metal).
    “bow” – instrument, to bend
    Homophone: Words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.
    Example: "To," "too," and "two."; sea – see; knight - night
    Hyponymy: The relationship between a general term and more specific terms under it.
    Example: "Flower" is a hyponym of "rose," "daisy," and "tulip."
    “Fruit’ – apple, banana, durian
    “Furniture’ – table, chair, sofa
    Collocation: Words that frequently occur together and sound natural.
    Example: "Make a decision," not "do a decision."; heavy rain, deep sleep, highly successful,
    birthday party

    Homonyms = Same sound/spelling, different meanings.


    Homographs = Same spelling, different meanings (sometimes different pronunciation).
    Homophones = Same sound, different meanings/spellings.

    Pragmatics
    Pragmatics is the study of how context influences the interpretation of language. It focuses on
    the meaning behind words in specific situations, beyond their literal meaning. In other words, it is a field
    of study that interprets the intended meaning, implications, and social functions of language in context.

    Utterances
    An utterance is any spoken or written expression in context, produced by a speaker in a specific
    situation. It’s not about grammatical structure but rather about the act of saying something. In other
    words, is the actual spoken or written instance of language, which pragmatics can help analyze to reveal
    underlying intentions or meanings beyond the literal words.
    Examples:
    Utterance – It’s really noise in here.
    Pragmatics – a simple observation (it’s actually very loud in here, an indirect request to reduce noise,
    such turning down the music, a hint to leave the noisy place.

    Utterance – I have some extra snacks if anyone is hungry.


    Pragmatics – It is a simple statement about having extra snacks, but pragmatically, it is likely an indirect
    offer to share the snacks.

    Speech Act Theory (Austin and Searle)


    Speech Act Theory explains how we perform actions through language.

    SPEECH ACT THEORY


    Locutionary Act Illocutionary Act Perlocutionary Act
    (literal words spoken; the act of (what the speaker aims to (how it influences them; the
    saying something with a specific accomplish; the intention effect of the statement on the
    meaning) behind the statement) listener)
    It’s raining. (literal) Could be intended to inform, The effect might make someone
    warn, or suggest staying indoors decide to bring an umbrella
    The window is open. (literal) Might be a suggestion to close The effect might be that the
    the window (intended as a listener gets up and closes the
    request) window.
    I have a headache. (literal) Might be to request sympathy The effect might be that the
    or to subtly ask for some quiet. listener lowers their voice or
    offers the speaker some
    medication.

    Types of Illocutionary Acts


    These describe the different types of purposes that illocutionary acts can serve.
    ILLOCUTIONARY ACTS
    Directive Commissive Representative/Assertive Declarative Expressive
    (command or (commitments (statements of facts or (statements (expressions of
    request to a future belief) that change the the speaker’s
    intended to get action by the state of affairs) emotions or
    the listener to speaker) attitudes)
    do something)
    Please finish I promise to The project is nearly I hereby declare I’m relieved the
    the project by complete the finished. the project project is finally
    tomorrow. project by completed. done.
    tomorrow.
    Could you I will attend the The meeting is scheduled The meeting is I’m excited for
    attend a meeting for tomorrow. now in session. the meeting
    meeting tomorrow. tomorrow.
    tomorrow?
    Felicity Conditions
    These are conditions that must be met for a speech act to be effective or valid or refer to the
    specific criteria that must be met for a speech act to be considered effective, appropriate, and
    meaningful in a given context. This was introduced in the context of Speech Act Theory, primarily by
    philosophers, J.L. Austin and John Searle.

    Example: If someone says, “I promise to help you.”


    General: Both the speaker and listener understand what it means to make a promise.
    Preparatory: The speaker has the ability to help and believes that listener genuinely needs assistance.
    Content: The promise must refer to a specific action that the speaker will undertake in the future.
    Sincerity: The speaker genuinely intends to fulfill the promise and is not making the statement
    insincerely.
    Essential: By making the promise, the speaker creates an obligation to follow through with the help.

    FELICITY CONDITIONS
    General Preparatory Content Condition Sincerity Essential
    Condition Condition (the content of the Condition Condition
    (both speaker (the context or speech act fits the (the speaker (the speech act
    and listener situation is intended purpose) genuinely fulfills its
    understand the suitable for the intends what intended
    language and speech act) they are saying) purpose and is
    situation) understood as
    such)

    “Speaking to The listener has The content of the The speaker The act of
    someone in a an interest or conversation is genuinely speaking in the
    language they willingness to meaningful and relevant intends to listener’s known
    know”. engage in to the listener. communicate language is
    conversation in and connect necessary for
    1. Both the that language. with the effective
    speaker and listener. communication.
    listener
    understand the
    language being
    spoken.
    “Making a promise The friend needs The promise is about a specific The speaker truly By making the
    to help a friend help with the action (helping with the needs to help the promise, the
    with a project” project, and the project) that will take place in friend and isn’t speaker is now
    speaker has the the future, not something making an empty committed to
    2. Both the speaker ability to help. already completed. promise. helping the friend
    and friend with the project.
    understand what it
    means to make a
    promise and agree
    on what “helping
    with a project”
    involves.
    1

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