3.2. Lexical meaning versus notion

3.2.1. The scope & content of notion & meaning

Notion (the reflection in the mind of real objects & phenomena in their essential features & relations) is introduced into linguistics from logic & psychology. The scope of the notion: all the objects it refers to. The content: all the features that distinguish it from other notions. The distinction between the scope & the content: the identifying (demonstrative) & significative functions of the W. The identifying function – denoting the objects covered by the scope of the notion expressed in the W. The significative function – expressing the content of the notion. Rendering an emotion / attitude – expressive function.

The notion & meaning relationship varies. W may have a notion, but often has a particular individual object for its referent. The problem of proper names. Pronouns possess the demonstrative function almost to an exclusion of the significative function.

3.2.2. Emotional & stylistic components of meaning

Notions are emotionally neutral (a category of thought). Language expresses all aspects of human consciousness. The meaning of many Ws conveys connotations. When used in emotionally coloured situations, emphatic syntactic structures & contexts, Ws accumulate emotional associations that blur their denotative meaning. Ws with the same denotative meaning may differ in emotional one.

The absence of regular 1-to-1 correspondence between meaning & notion: Ws belonging to a specific stylistic level. The stylistic colouring ≠ emotional tone. W may have a definite stylistic characteristic & be devoid of any emotional colouring. Ws may belong to the same style & express opposed emotions.

The lexical meaning cannot be divorced from the typical sphere & contexts where Ws are used. A notion belongs to abstract logic & has no ties with any stylistic sphere & does not contain any emotive components.

3.2.3. Grammatical component of meaning

W expresses a notion in a way determined by the peculiarities of the lexical & grammatical systems of the language, & various structural ties of the W in speech. W has paradigmatic ties relating it to other Ws & forms, & giving it a differential quality (relations to other elements of the same thematic group, synonyms & antonyms, phraseological restrictions on its use & the type of Ws derived from it). W has syntagmatic ties characterising the ordered linear arrangement of speech elements. The lexical meaning of a W depends upon the part of speech it belongs to. W may be used in a limited set of syntactical functions, & with a definite valency. It has a definite set of grammatical meanings, & a definite set of forms.

Every LG class is characterised by its own LG meaning (the common denominator of all the meanings of the Ws belonging to this group). The LG meaning is the feature according to which these Ws are grouped together. The scope of the notion rendered by the LG meaning of the class is much larger than the scope of the notion rendered by the lexical meaning of each individual W.