Language Meaning and Use

Language Meaning and Use

1. Types of meaning

   • Lexical
     • Derivational Morphology
   • Grammatical
     • Inflectional Morphology
   • Sentence
     • Syntax
   • Utterance
     • Pragmatics
   • External meaning relationships
     • Sense
       • Relationship between words
     • Denotation
       • Relationship of word to what it signifies

2. Semantics

   • Study of meaning in language
   • Semiotics
     • Study of communication systems in general
       • eg. Sign language

3. Pragmatics

   • Study of language from its usage

4. Semantic analysis

   • Prototype theory
     • A central concept is taken as typical and less central ones are peripheral
   • Componential analysis
     • Seeks to break words down into their component semantic parts

5. Other tools

   • Cognates
     • Similar word, same meaning
   • False Cognates
     • Similar word, different meaning