9.4A Types of antonyms

Gradable antonyms are adjectives which do not refer to absolute qualities, but which may be subject to comparison or qualification. e.g. narrow – wide, small – large, tall – short.

Complementary antonyms represent two interrelated entities, one doesn’t exist without another. It means that the denial of one member of the pair implies the assertion of the other member, e.g. alive – dead, male – female, open – shut.

Converses or relational opposites. One member of the pair refers to the converse relation referred to by the other member, e.g. over – under, receive – give, wife – husband.

9.5 Partonymy

Partonymy shows ‘part – whole’ relations between word meanings,

e.g. body – head, hand – finger, flock – bird

The word that represents the ’whole’ is holonym and the word representing ‘a part’ is a partonym.

9.6 Hyponymy

A hyponym /’hipənim/ is a word of narrower or more specific meaning that comes under another of wider or more general meaning, e.g. rose under flower. In this relationship the word flower is hyperonym /’haipənim/ or superordinate. In its order flower is a hyponym of plant.

e.g. handle – door, beard – face, foot – leg

Handle and beard are segmental parts because they can be detached (handle is optional for door, beard is opt. for face) but foot cannot be detached => it's connected to the whole.

Hyponyms and hypernyms are organized in ‘tree’ structures.

flower

rose

daffodil

tulip

lily

Lady Jane tulip

Persian Pearl tulip

Lilac Wonder tulip

9.7 Lexical semantic fields

Lexical semantic fields include words that belong to the same part of speech and designate some general concept.

e.g. fields of clothing, colour, parts of the body etc.

All these words could be considered together. Such large groups are called lexical semantic fields. The theory of semantic fields was developed by J.Trier and W. Porzig in 1934.

10. Word stock stratification Outline

10.1 Chronological stratification:1a.The basic vocabulary

1b. Historic / archaic words

1c. New words / neologisms

10.2 Stylistic stratification: 10.2a Stylistically neutral words

10.2b Bookish words

10.2c Special terminology

10.2d Colloquial Words: (1) Dialectal words. Cockney

(2) Professionalisms

(3) Jargonisms

(4) Slang words

(5) Vulgarisms / obscenities

(6) Taboos

10.1 Chronological stratification

Chronological stratification is concerned with the change of vocabulary strata through time. The strata include the basic word-stock, as well as ‘old’ and ‘new’ words. With the course of time, words can move from one stratum to another.

10.1A The basic vocabulary

The basic vocabulary is the central group of the vocabulary. Basic vocabulary words can be recognized not only by their stylistic neutrality but also by their entire lack of other connotations. Their meanings are broad and they directly convey the concept without supplying any additional information.

Basic	Informal	Formal
end	finish, be trough, be over	terminate
child	kid, beam (dial.)	infant