MEANING

1. What is meaning?

Meaning can be more or less described as a component of the word through which a concept is communicated, in this way endowing the word with the ability of denoting real objects, qualities, actions and abstract notions.

Symbol: word.

Referent: what word denotes.

Symbol and referent has indired relationship.

Thought or reference: notion

2. What is semantics (semasiology)?

Semantics is a branch of linguistics which specializes in the study of meaning.

3. What is the modem approach to semantics based on?

The modern approach to semantics is based on the assumption that the assumption that the inner form of the word presents a structure which is called the semantic structure of the word.

4. What is the semantic structure of the word?

The semantic structure of the word is the assumed structure of its inner form

5. What main semantic components can be found with the semantic structure of the word?

- Denotative component (denotation)

- Connotative component (connotation)

6. What is denotation?

The denotative component or denotation is the primary or literal meaning of the word expressing the conceptual content.

7. What is connotation?

The connotative component or connotation is the secondary or additional meaning of the word or its implication giving a more or less full picture of the meaning.

8. What is polysemy?

Polysemy is the existence of several connected meanings within a word as the result of the development or changes of the original meaning.

Eg: mouse - a kind of rodent animal

- a device to control computer

9. Why is context important in understanding the meaning of the word?

Context is important in understanding the meaning of the word because it can serve a powerful preventative against any misunderstanding of meanings.

10. What is transference?

Transference is the process of development of a new meaning of the word.

11. What are the main types of transference?

There are two types of transference

- Metaphor

- Metonymy

12. What is linguistic metaphor?

Metaphor is the transference based on resemblance or similarity

For example:

* Similarity in appearance:

+ mouse (a kind of rodent animal)  a device to control com

+ eye (part of body)  eye of storm

+ drop (of water)  eardrop

* Similarity in position

+ foot (part of body)  foot of the tree

+ head (part of body)  head of the plane

* Similarity in function

+ hand (part of body): + hand of watch/clock

+ key (to the door)  key to success/exercise

* Quality, characteristic.

+ star (celestial body)  movie/pop star

+ fox (an animal)  that woman's very foxy

+ snake (an animal)  he's a snake society

* Size

+ Sea (large water area covering the earth)  sea of trouble

+ elephant (an animal)  this is an elephant task 4 me.

13. What is linguistic metonymy?

Metonymy is the transference based on contiguity or relatedness

For example:

* The relation between name of a container and what is contained inside.

+ A table for 4, please  food

+ How many glasses did U drink today?  wine

* The relation between geographical names and the product.

+ Bordeaux and Champagne.

* Relation between name of inventor and his/her invention or name of author and his/her works.

+ Honda: she drives her Honda to work every day.

+ Tô Hoài: That 8 year old girl is very fond of To Hoai

* Relation between name of material and product made of material.

+ Vietnamese female selected football team (squad) has won more gold while the man's selected football team won only bronze.

* Name of separate past a whole thing or vice versa.

+ My bike has gone wrong again.

+ Lend me a hand, please.

+ 2 heads r better than one.

14. What is generalization/ broadening of meaning?

Generalization/ broadening of meaning is the extension of semantic capacity of a word during the process of historical development of the word.

15. What is specialization/ narrowing of meaning?

Specialization/ narrowing is the restriction of semantic capacity of a word during the process of historical development of the word.

Eg: queen: wife  wife of king.

16. What is degeneration/ degradation?

Degeneration/ degradation is acquisition of less emotive, less pleasant meaning of the word during the process of historical development of the word.

Eg: Ass: donkey  anus

17. What is elevation?

Elevation is acquisition of more emotive, more pleasant... meaning of the word during the process of historical development of the word.