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.