6.3 synonymy. 6.3.1 definition of synonyms definition: words different in sound and spelling but...
TRANSCRIPT
6.3 Synonymy
6.3.1 Definition of Synonyms
Definition: Words different in sound and
spelling but nearly alike or exactly the same in meaning
Problem: What kind of meaning does
“meaning” refer to?
6.3.1 Definition of Synonyms
Types of meaning: grammatical meaning lexical meaning conceptual meaning associative meaning connotative meaning stylistic meaning affective meaning collocative meaning
6.3.1 Definition of Synonyms
Examples: generous—extravagant = free with
money end—terminate = put to an end * end—final = relating to end * brother—fraternally = relating to brother One of two or more words which have the
same or very nearly the same essential meaning. (WNDS)
6.3.2 Types of Synonyms
Two types of synononyms: absolute synonyms relative synonyms
6.3.2 Types of Synonyms
1. absolute/complete synonyms scarlet-fever—scarlatina 猩红热 composition—compounding word-building—word-formation words which are identical in both gramm
atical and lexical meanings, including associative meanings
6.3.2 Types of Synonyms
2. Relative synonyms /near-synonyms words which are similar or the same in co
nceptual meanng, but may have differences in associative meanings (connotative, stylistic, affective, collocative)
6.3.2 Types of Synonyms
change—alter 1. Yesterday I bought a coat, but it
was too big, so I took it back and ________it.
2. Yesterday I bought a coat, but it was too big, so I took it to the tailor and ______ it.
changed
altered
6.3.2 Types of Synonyms
expensive—dear 笑 laugh smile grin chuckle giggle
微笑咧嘴笑暗笑嗤笑
大笑
6.3.2 Types of Synonyms
chortle titter snigger guffaw cackle roar
哈哈大笑傻笑嘻皮笑脸地笑哄笑咯咯地笑狂笑
6.3.3 Sources of Synonyms
1. Borrowing. As a result of borrowing, words of
native origin form couplets (成对词) or triplets(三词组) with those from other languages, e.g.
6.3.3 Sources of Synonyms
Leave (English) depart (Borrowing) earthly terrestrial buy purchase English French Latin ask question interrogate holy sacred consecrated
6.3.3 Sources of Synonyms
2. Dialects and regional English, e.g. railway (BrE) railroad (AmE) mother (BrE) minny (ScotE)
6.3.3 Sources of Synonyms
3. Figurative and euphemistic use of words, e.g.
occupation/ profession
walk of life (fig)
liedistort the fact (euph)
6.3.3 Sources of Synonyms
4. Coincidence with idiomatic expressions, e.g.
win gain the upper hand decide make up one’s mind
6.3.4 Discrimination of Synonyms
The differences between synonyms may boil down to three areas: denotation, connotation, and application.
1. Difference in denotation (1) Difference in range of meaning timid: timorous:
momentary; habitualhabitual (disposition)
6.3.4 Discrimination of Synonyms
mend: patch: wind: breeze:
TV, bicycle, shoes, wallclothes
any kind
light wind
6.3.4 Discrimination of Synonyms
2) Difference in intensity of meaning rich—wealthy surprise—astonish unpleasant—disgusting anger—fury
6.3.4 Discrimination of Synonyms
2. Difference in connotation (1) Difference in stylistic colouring agree—concur small—diminutive fire—flame—conflagration time—age—epoch
6.3.4 Discrimination of Synonyms
2) Difference in affective colouring argue—quarrel modest—humble brave—foolhardy accomplice—partner/collaborator
6.3.4 Discrimination of Synonyms
3. Difference in application Collocation forbid sb to do sth prohibit sb from doing sth charge sb with sth accuse sb of sth
6.3.4 Discrimination of Synonyms
the world began/started the car started/began a man of sense/meaning
6.3.4 Discrimination of Synonyms
strong
powerful
argument
√
√
tea
√
×
car
×
√
6.5 Antonymy
6.5 Antonymy Definition: Antonymy is concerned with semantic op
position. Antonyms are words opposite in concept
ual meaning.
6.5.1 Types of Antonyms
1. Complementaries 互补 (contradictory terms, binary antonyms)
Examples: dead—alive present—absent single—married
6.5.1 Types of Antonyms
Characteristics: truely opposite in meaning non-gradable and mutually exclusive
6.5.1 Types of Antonyms
If one is absent, one cannot be present. No one can be both present and absent. single—married * S/He is very single, or more single, or
extremely single. * Zhang San is more married than Li Si.
6.5.1 Types of Antonyms
2. Contraries 对立 (contrary terms, gradable antonyms, gradable opposites)
Antonyms of this type are best viewed in terms of a scale running between two poles.
6.5.1 Types of Antonyms
They can accommodate a middle ground.
Huge. very big.big.quite big.medium-sized.quite small.small. tiny
NORM
6.5.1 Types of Antonyms
More examples: old middle-aged young rich well-to-do poor beautiful good-looking plain ugly
Characteristics: gradable semantically relative
6.5.1 Types of Antonyms
3. Converses 换位 (relative terms, relational opposites)
(1) social relation parent—child teacher—pupil employer—employee
6.5.1 Types of Antonyms
3. Converses 换位 (relative terms, relational opposites)
(2) spatial relation above—below here—there right—left
6.5.1 Types of Antonyms
3. Converses 换位 (relative terms, relational opposites)
(3) reciprocal relation buy—sell give—receive borrow—lend
6.5.1 Types of Antonyms
Compare: husband—wife man—woman If the adult is not a man, the adult must
be a woman. * If the adult is not a husband, the adu
lt must be a wife.
conversescomplementaries
6.5.2 Characteristics of Antonyms
1. Most of antonyms are adjectives, a small number are verbs, few are nouns.
2. A language has more synonyms than antonyms.
read, hit, house, book, power 3. A word with more than one meaning
can have more than one antonym.
6.5.2 Characteristics of Antonyms
Example: clear clear answer clear mind clear plastic bag clear water clear conscience
confusing/ambiguousmuddledopaquedirtyguilty
6.5.2 Characteristics of Antonyms
4. Antonyms differ in semantic inclusion.
One word includes the meaning of the other.
man—woman old—young There is no man on the island. There is no woman on the island. How old is the girl? How young is the girl?
6.5.2 Characteristics of Antonyms
5. A contrary term, gradable in nature, has its own antonym of similar intensity.
warm cool hot cold warm cold hot cool
6.5.2 Characteristics of Antonyms
Negative antonyms are not as strong as opposites.
unhappysadhapp
yunproductive destructive
productive
unfree enslavedfree
6.5.3 The Use of Antonyms
1. Antonyms can be used to define words. Unlike her gregarious sister, Jane is a
shy, unsociable person.(gregarious—unsociable)
2. Antonyms are used to form contrast. weal and woe high and low friend or foe give and take
6.5.3 The Use of Antonyms
Different word-order in Chinese and English: fire and water 水火 heat and cold 寒署 right and left 左右 old and new 新老 heavy and light 轻重 sooner or later 迟早 dine and wine 吃喝
6.5.3 The Use of Antonyms
Easy come, easy go. 来得易 , 去得快 More haste, less speed. 欲速则不达 United we stand, divided we fall. 团结则存 , 分裂则亡