Concepts in Semantics

Concepts in Semantics

1. Synonym

   • Is a word that has almost the same meaning as another word.
     • For example, a synonym for beautiful is stunning : She is a beautiful girl. She is a stunning girl.

2. Antonym

   • Is a word we use to mean opposite.
     • For example, the antonym of big is small, or the antonym of tall is short.

3. Hyponym

   • In linguistics, a specific term used to designate a member of a class.
     • For example, red , yellow, green is a hyponym of "color".

4. Paraphrase

   • A restatement of a text in another form or other words, often to simplify or clarify meaning.
     • Original: Any trip to Italy should include a visit to Tuscany to sample their exquisite wines. Paraphrase: Be sure to include a Tuscan wine-tasting experience when visiting Italy.

5. Homonymy

   • Two or more words that have the same sound or spelling but differ in meaning.
     • For example, the homonymy for Die (to become dead) is Dye (coloring agent).

6. Homophones

   • Is a word that sounds like another word but has a different meaning.
     • For example naval and navel: Naval - relates to ships and things nautical. A navel - also known as the belly button, it is the scar that is left in the centre of the abdomen when the umbilical cord is cut after birth.

7. Homographs

   • Words that have the same spelling but differ in origin, meaning, and sometimes pronunciation.
     • For example: "Advocate" can be pronounced with a long "a" sound and mean “to speak or write in support of”, or "Advocate" can also be pronounced with a short "a" sound and refer to a person who supports or pleads the cause of another.

8. Polysemy

   • The association of one word with two or more distinct meanings. A polysemy is a word or phrase with multiple meanings.
     • For example: The house is at the foot of the mountains. (refers to the bottom part of the mountains). One of his shoes felt too tight for his foot. (part of the leg )

9. Ambiguity

   • The presence of two or more possible meanings within a single word. Also called homonymy.
     • For example: The passerby helps dog bite victim . – Is the passerby helping a dog bite someone? Or is he helping a person bitten by a dog? It’s not clear.