Language in Text &Language in Text &Reading ComprehensionReading Comprehension
SynonymySynonymy
Synonymy isSynonymy is identity of meaningidentity of meaning
synonymous lexemessynonymous lexemes
happyhappy gladglad cheerfulcheerful
synonymous lexemessynonymous lexemes
sadsad unhappyunhappy sorrowfulsorrowful
But, these But, these are not synonymsare not synonyms..
cheerfulnesscheerfulness
sorrowfulsorrowful
happilyhappilygladglad
sadnesssadness
unhappilyunhappily
These, however, are synonyms:These, however, are synonyms:
happy : glad : cheerfulhappy : glad : cheerful
happiness : gladness : cheerfulnesshappiness : gladness : cheerfulness
happily: gladly: cherfullyhappily: gladly: cherfully
unhappy : sad: sorrowfulunhappy : sad: sorrowful
unhappiness : sadness : sorrowfulnessunhappiness : sadness : sorrowfulness
unhappily : sadly : sorrowfullyunhappily : sadly : sorrowfully
TypesTypes
SynonymySynonymy
11 Absolute SynonymyAbsolute Synonymy
22 Complete SynonymyComplete Synonymy
33 Referential SynonymyReferential SynonymyDescriptive SynonymyDescriptive SynonymyCognitive SynonymyCognitive Synonymy
1. Absolute Synonymy1. Absolute Synonymy
• The lexemes should have The lexemes should have ““the same the same distributiondistribution”” and should be and should be ““completely completely synonymous in all their meanings and synonymous in all their meanings and contexts of occurrence.contexts of occurrence.”” (Lyons 148)(Lyons 148)
• Absolutely synonymous lexemes are nearly Absolutely synonymous lexemes are nearly non-existant.non-existant.
• This type is This type is ““restricted to highly specialized restricted to highly specialized vocabularyvocabulary”” such as medicine or biology. such as medicine or biology. (ibid.)(ibid.) (example 1)(example 1)
Example 1Example 1
caecitis = typhlitiscaecitis = typhlitis
inflammation of the blind gutinflammation of the blind gut
What about the following pairs?What about the following pairs?
1. radio / wireless1. radio / wireless
2. aerodrome / airfield2. aerodrome / airfield
Are they absolutely synonymous?Are they absolutely synonymous?
2. Complete Synonymy2. Complete Synonymy
• The synonyms should have The synonyms should have ““the same the same descriptive, expressive and social descriptive, expressive and social meaning.meaning.”” (ibid.)(ibid.)
• Completely synonymous lexemes are Completely synonymous lexemes are rare.rare.
Example 2:Example 2:
nearly : almostnearly : almost
What about the following?What about the following?
1. broad / wide1. broad / wide
2. lavatory / toilet / loo / WC2. lavatory / toilet / loo / WC
Are they completely synonymous?Are they completely synonymous?
3. Descriptive Synonymy3. Descriptive Synonymy
• It is referred to as It is referred to as cognitive synonymycognitive synonymy or or referential synonymyreferential synonymy..
• It stands for lexemes that have It stands for lexemes that have approximately the same meaning.approximately the same meaning.
Example 3:Example 3:
father / dad / daddy / popfather / dad / daddy / pop
ConclusionConclusion
1. Synonymy1. Synonymy = descriptive synonymy = descriptive synonymy = referential synonymy = referential synonymy = cognitive synonymy = cognitive synonymy
2. Complete synonymy2. Complete synonymy: rare : rare
3. Absolute synonymy3. Absolute synonymy: almost non-: almost non-existantexistant
Works ConsultedWorks Consulted
• Leech, Geoffrey. Leech, Geoffrey. Semantics: The Study Semantics: The Study of Meaningof Meaning. London: Penguin Books, . London: Penguin Books, 1981.1981.
• Lyons, John. Lyons, John. Language and Language and Linguistics: An IntroductionLinguistics: An Introduction. . Cambridge University Press, 1992.Cambridge University Press, 1992.