2. Speak about polysemy as a type of paradigmatic relationship. Paradigmatics

Paradigmatics relations (парадигматические отношения) in the lexicon of a language: associative ( non-simultaneous ) relationship of words in language.

Paradigmatic  lexical relations derive from the possibility to substitute on the lexical axis – individual words serve as substitutes – they are in a substitutional   relations. 

an opposing relationship of several elements of language involving a choice of one of a number of mutually exclusive elements.

Paradigmatic relations are functional contrasts - they involve differentiation.

A paradigm is a set of associated signifiers or signifieds which are all members of some defining category, but in which each is significantly different.

example of paradigms

-Phonological

[s]-[z] (seal -zeal)

[i]-[i:] - (ship- sheep)

-morphological

to work- I work, he works, she is working, he has been working ...

-Lexical semantic

bright

1) shining,

2) intelligent

Bright-smart-clever are the synonyms but you can't use all af them at once

Polysemy

it is the ability of a word to posess more then one lexical meaning in language (NOT in speech)

two contrasting views of polysemy:

1) a word has necessary multiple since it always generalizes several features of an object > emphasis is put on nominative function of the word

2) meaning are added to the word in the course of cognition and communication > emphasis is put on cognitive communicative context of the word.

A compromise

In it's nominative function, a word reflects our generalized perception of an object in its complexity but at the same time puts forward specific features in accordance with the communicative context

ex. Blackberries are red when they are green

>generalized perception

vs.

actualization of specific features

this dualism seems to be universal in all languages

What is context?

Context is probably one of the driving forces in polysemy.

Context: linguistic (and very often exytalinguistic) environment sufficient to establish the meaning of the word or phrase; any meaning actualized only in a specific context.

Ex. Eye

he opend his eyes > 1) organ of sight

the eye of a potato > 2) point from which a leaf-bud will grow, resembling an eye

types of context:

the typology of of context depends on the discipline that used this nomin.

- philosophical, social, cultural...

In linguistic context is understood either as:

- linguistic environment ( context in the narrower sense), or

- extralinguistic communicative situation ( context in the broader sense).

Contextual markers

specific contextual markers ( semantic units that surround the polysemous words - the polyseme ) help to disambiguate polysemy (снимать много знатность)

a sharp knife > refers to cutting quality of the instruments edge

a sharp drop > refers to the speed of shape

polysemy is disambiguated through grammatical and /or lexical contextual markers :

the girl run when she saw us coming > run is used intransitevly (grammar) + has girl (animate) as subject (lexical semantic)

he has no idea now to run a business > run is used transitevly with a direct object (grammar) + has business (process that can be manager) as direct object ( lexical semantic)