Sadia Sattar

Semantic EFL classroom
Presented to: Dr
Zafar Ullah
Presented by: Sadia Sattar
Roll no: BSF23002939

https://orcid.org/
0009-0002-1965-7611
Introduction of Semantics
• Linguistic semantics is the conventional meaning
conveyed by the use of words, phrases and sentences
of a language. Lexical semantics is concerned with the
meanings of morphemes and words; and phrasal or
sentential semantics with phrases and sentences.
• It is less concerned with the associative meaning of
the words. However, different people might have
different associations or connotations attached to a
word like needle.
• These types of associations are not treated as part of
the word’s conceptual meaning.
Conceptualizing Semantics
• Derivation of a Greek word semantikos, semantics is the study of meaning. It
focuses on the relation between signifiers, like words, phrases, signs and
symbols, and what they stand for, their denotation. Linguistic semantics is the
study of meaning that is used for understanding human expression through
language.
• In linguistics, it is the study of interpretation of signs and symbols used in agents
or communities within particular circumstances and contexts. Within this view,
sounds, facial expressions, body language, and proxemics have semantic
content, and each comprises branches of study.
• The history of semantics can be dated back to the writings of Plato and Aristotle.
Later, in twentieth century it reflects in the works of philosophers and logicians
like Charles Peirce (1839- 1914). From its inception in the 1880’s through the
1950’s, semantics dealt practically exclusively with word meaning.
Semantic Roles
• A term used in semantics to refer to the semantic relations that link a
predicate to its arguments in the description of a situation. Thus in the
sentence Roger milked the cow the entities are related by the action
described by the verb.
• It has been suggested that these roles may be subsumed into two main
types: the macro-roles of actor and undergoer, or, in an alternative
terminology, the proto-roles of agent and patient.
• If the situation is a simple event, as in The boy kicked the ball, then the verb
describes an action( kick). We can identify a small number of semantics
roles for these noun phrases.
1. Agent and theme
2. Instrument and experiencer
3. Location, source and goal
Semantic Features
• In semantics, a minimal contrastive element of a word’s
meaning; in some approaches, called a semantic component.
Girl, for example, might be analysed into such features as
‘young’, female and human. We should first note that the
oddness of these sentences does not derive from their
syntactic structure.
• We can make this observation more generally applicable by
trying to determine the crucial element or feature of meaning
that any noun must have in order to be used as the subject of
the verb ate. Such an element may be as general as animate
being.
Continue....
From a feature analysis like this, we can say that at least part of the meaning of the word girl in English involves the elements ( + human, +female, -adult).
We can also characterise the feature that is crucially required in a noun in order for it appear as the subject of a particular verb, supplementing the syntactic analysis with semantic Features.
Semantic Feature analysis
• The semantic Feature analysis strategy can be used as a
grid to help explore how sets of things are related to one
another. By completing and analyzing the grid, students
are able to see connections, make predictions and master
important concepts.
• It enhances comprehension and vocabulary skills.
• Why to use semantic Features?
• When to use semantic Features?
• How to use semantic Features?
Purpose of semantic
Features analysis
The purpose of this activity is to guide students
in analyzing the meanings of specific words
while integrating the meanings of new words
into their vocabularies. When introducing this
activity, we should use concrete categories that
are within the experience of the students.
Optional steps
The following steps may be included after Steps 3 or
7:
• Have the students add works to the list that fit the
category.
• Have the students add shared features in the empty
columns.
• Have the students complete the matrix with pluses
and minuses.
Conclusion
Unlike syntax, morphology and phonology,
semantics is highly neglected and unexplored area
time to time. The reason behind it was that the
discipline sometime widely accepted by the
contemporary scholars and sometimes it was
highly rejected too. Now a day, semantics has got
its revitalization. There is a great possibility to
explore this area and to make it more interesting.
Any Question ?
Thank you!

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Semantic EFL classroom

Presented by: Sadia Sattar

Roll no: BSF23002939

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