2. Homonymy

Homonymy and sources of homonyms

Homonymy – (similar and name) two or more words identical in sound form of spelling but different in meaning. 89% monosyllabic words. Homonyms are words different in meaning but identical in sound or spelling, or both in sound and spelling. Homonyms can appear in the language not only as a result of split of polysemy, but also as a result of levelling of grammar inflexions, when different parts of speech become identical in their outer aspect.

There are several sources of homonyms in English:

1. A chance coincidence of sound form of originally different: 1. Phonetic changes which words undergo in the course of their historical development. 2. Borrowing. In the final stage of its phonetic adaptation, a borrowed word may duplicate in form either a native word or another borrowing. 3. Word-building, (a) Conversion (b) Shortening (c) Sound-imitation.

2. The split of polysemy. This type of homonymy is open to discussion and the demarcation line between homonymy and polysemy remains one of the most debatable problems in semasiology because it is difficult to establish criteria by which the split of polysemy could be detected.

The criterion of etymology:

If homonymy is viewed diachronically all cases of convergent sound development are regarded as cases of homonymy, as homonymous words can be traced back to etymologically different words. These homonyms are separated according to their origin.

The criteria used in the syncronic analysis of homonymy are:

1. The semantic criterion of related or unrelated meanings:

If a connection between various meanings is apprehended by the speaker, these are to be considered as making up the semantic structure of a polysemantic word.

2. The criterion of spelling:

Formal difference in graphic form is felt as indicative of homonymy

3. The criterion of distribution:

It is helpful in cases of grammatical and lexico-grammatical homonymy, but often fails in cases of lexical homonymy. The context serves to differentiate meanings, but is of little help in distinguishing betwen homonymy and polysemy.

Classification of homonyms

1. homonyms proper or perfect homonyms: words identical in sound-form and spelling but different in meaning

2. homophones: words identical in sound-form but different in spelling and in meaning

3. homographs: words different in sound-form and in meaning, but accidentally identical in spelling

Various types of classification for homonyms proper have been suggested.

1. lexical homonyms which represent the same part of speech and have the same paradigm, but differ in lexical meaning

2. lexico-grammatical homonyms which differ both in lexical and grammatical meanings

3. grammatical homonyms which differ in grammatical meaning

Consequently all cases of English homonymy may be classified into full and partial homonymy: homonymy of words and homonymy of individual word-forms.

3.Simantic fields and lexico-semantic groups.

A semantic field is a technical term in the discipline of linguistics to describe a set of words grouped by meaning referring to a specific subject. Semantic fields – one of the ways of classifying words in English – is a grouping of words based on the connection of the notions underlying their meanings (the system of colors. Green, red, white and blue are joined together by the common semantic component – the concept of colours. This semantic component common to all members of the field is sometimes described as the common denominator of meaning.

Lexico-semantic groups are formed of words of the same part of speech, referring to a common notion, but in case the groups are very extensive and cover big conceptual areas, we find them in different parts of speech, we find them in collocations, followed by the same preposition and so on.

Synonymy is one of the most difficult and controversial problems, and the most controversial point is the problem of criteria of synonymy and the definition of synonyms. Traditional linguistics solved the problem with the notional criterion and defined synonyms as words of the same part of speech conveying the same notion but differing either in shades of meaning or in stylistic characteristics. Some aspects of this definition have been criticised. It has been pointed out that linguistic phenomena should be defined in linguistic terms and the term «notion» makes this an extralinguistic definition. In contemporary linguistics the semantic criterion of synonymy is fre­quently used. In terms of componental analysis synonyms may be defined as words with the same or nearly the same denotation (or the denotative compo­nents) but differing in connotations (in emotive charge or in stylistic character­istics).

Synonymic sets and sources of synonymy The main sources of synonyms in English are:

1. Borrowings: due to abundant borrowing a characteristic pattern of English synonymic sets is the pattern including the native and the borrowed words. There are countless pairs of synonyms in English where a native term is opposed to one borrowed from French, Latin or Greek, the so called double-scale patterns, the native word is usually colloquial, whereas a borrowed word is as a rule bookish or highly literary. The peculiar feature of the triple-scale pattern is the contrast between stylistically neutral native words, literary words borrowed from French and learned words of Latin or Greek origin. But it is not only borrowings from foreign languages that have made contributions to the stock of English synonyms.

2.Shift of meaning in the words already existing in the language. When the English verb to overlook acquired the transferred meaning of 'deceive', its synonym to oversee underwent a parallel change. This form of analogy active in the semantic development of synonyms is referred to as radiation of synonyms. It has often been found that subjects prominent in the interests and activities of a community tend to attract a large number of synonyms. This principle of synonymy is referred to as law of synonymic attraction.

3. The formation of phrasal verbs: phrasal verbs in their turn supply material for further word-formation, adding to the stock of synonyms.

4.The formation of set expressions with a verb of generic meaning (have, give, take, get, make). Stylistic synonymy is characteristic in replacing a word by a group of words or vice versa.

5.Composition, derivation, conversion; reproduction: it is open to discussion, however, whether words like teaser and tease should be regarded as synonyms or lexical variants.

6. Shortening: advertisement — advert — ad; memorandum — memo; microphone — mike; business — biz; repetition — rep.

7. Euphemisms: A euphemism is a word of more or less pleasant or at least inoffensive connotation as compared with the word it substitutes. In the past words connected with sacred beings or objects were tabooed, e.g. lord for 'god'. After a short period of use euphemism becomes so closely connected with the notion that it turns into a word as obnoxious as the earlier synonym.

The study of synonyms is a borderline province between semasiology and stylistics, on the one hand, and semasiology and phraseology, on the other. The distinction between synonyms is often very fine and elusive, so that some special instruction on their use is necessary even for native speaker. This accounts for the great number of books of synonyms that serve as guides for those who aim at good style and precision. The study of synonymic forms of expression peculiar to a given national language helps to determine its living active styles and the laws of their development. Multiformity of synonymic forms of expression is closely connected with the stylistic differentiation of a national language. The existence of numerous groups of synonyms is one of the characteristic features of the English vocabulary. The use of synonyms enables the author to avoid a trivial repetition of the same word and provides variety of expression.