Seminar 6. Word-meaning
Цель: дать представление о семасиологии как одном из разделов лингвистики, рассмотреть значение слова как основное понятие семасиологии и рассмотреть изменения в семантическом значении структуры слов.
Задачи: определение семасиологии;
рассмотрение значение слова в рамках референтного подхода;
рассмотрение значение слова в рамках функционального подхода;
ознакомление с аспектами лексического значения слова;
выявление компонентов денотативного и коннотативного значений слова;
Ключевые понятия: Semasiology, referential approach, functional approach, basic triangle, the sound-form of a linguistic sign, referent, concept, grammatical meaning, lexical meaning, part-of-speech meaning, denotational meaning, connotational meaning, stylistic reference, emotive charge, evaluation, intensity (expressiveness), imagery.
Points for discussion:
What does semasiology study?
What is the essence of the referential approach to meaning?
How is meaning defined on the functional basis?
What types of meaning can be singled out?
What aspects of lexical meaning can be singled out? Describe each of the type.
Tasks suggested:
1. Define all possible types of meaning in the following words:
Model: buys
Lexical meaning consists of denotational and connotational components. The denotational meaning of this word is "to purchase". It is stylistically neutral and there is no emotive charge in it.
The grammatical meaning of this word is the third person singular.
As for part-of-speech meaning it is a verb and denotes an action (the lexical component) and as a verb it has the grammatical categories of tense, person, number, mood, voice (the grammatical component).
Woman's, chicks (=girls coll.), bright, wider, the blackest, walked, (had) moved, runs, quickly, further (adv).
2. Identify the denotational and connotational aspects of lexical meaning of the given words. Analyze the similarity and difference between the components of the connotational aspect of lexical meaning in the given pairs of words.
Model: celebrated – notorious
The denotational and connotational aspects of the word celebrated is ‘widely known, admired and talked about by many people because of good qualities’ (component of the connotational aspect - positive evaluation)
The denotational and connotational aspects of the word notorious are ‘widely known because of something bad, for example for being criminal, violent or immoral’ (component of the connotational aspect - negative evaluation)
To deal with – to grapple with, sophisticated – hardened, adventure – ordeal, perfect – flawless, to glance – to glare, adulation – respect, to murmur – to mutter.
Study guidelines:
The aim of this seminar is “to get at” what the meaning of a word is. It is one of the most main aspects of lexicology.
Considering the word in a referential approach it’s important to differentiate the three contiguous notions: the sound-from of a linguistic sign, concept and the referent. One should remember that the meaning of a word is not identical to any of the above-mentioned notions.
The lexical meaning of the word is not homogeneous and is represented by the denotational, connotational and pragmatic components. Such categories as emotive charge, evaluation, intensity (expressiveness) and imagery are distinguished in the structure of the connotational meaning. Thus, the meaning of a word is a complex hierarchical structure, which should be presented by students in a diagram.
The issue concerning the stylistic coloring of words should be illustrated by students’ examples taken from books they read.
For more detailed information concerning meaning, nature, types and results of semantic change it’s highly recommended to use R.Z. Ginzburg and I.V. Zikova textbooks