Intralinguistic relations of words

Intralinguistic relations of words are basically of two types: syntagmatic and paradigmatic. Syntagmatic relations define the meaning the word possesses when it is used in combination with other words in the flow of speech. Compare the meanings of the verb" to get" in "He got a letter", "He got tired", "He got to London".

Paradigmatic relations are those that exist between individual lexical items which make up one of the subgroups of vocabulary items, e.g. sets of synonyms, lexico-semantic groups, etc. Paradigmatic relations define the word meaning through its interrelation with other members of the subgroup in question. For example the meaning of the verb to get can be fully understood only in comparison with other items of the synonymic set: to get, to obtain, to receive, etc.

From the study of the intralinguistic relations of words in the flow of speech, i.e. from the study of a variety of contexts, in which the word is used, we gain a full understanding of the semantic structure of any lexical item. The term “context” denotes the minimal stretch of speech determining each individual meaning of the word.

Context may be subdivided into linguistic (verbal) and extralinguistic (non-verbal).

Linguistic context may be subdivided into lexical and syntactical (grammatical).

In lexical context of primary importance are the groups of lexical items combined with the polysemantic word under consideration. Let us analyze different lexical contexts in which the adjective heavy is used: 1) heavy load, heavy table — in this lexical context heavy means "of great weight", 2) heavy storm, heavy snow — in this lexical context heavy means "abundant"; 3) in combination with the words industry, artillery, heavy has the meaning "the larger kind of smth". It can be easily observed that the main factor in bringing out the individual meanings of the adjective "heavy" is the lexical meaning of the words with which heavy is combined.

In syntactical contexts it is the syntactical structure of the context that serves to determine various individual meanings of a polysemantic word. The meaning of the verb "to make" — "to force, to enduce" is found only in the grammatical context possessing the syntactical structure "to make smb do smth" — (to make + Pm. + verb). In other terms this particular meaning occurs only if the verb make is followed by a noun and the infinitive of some other verb (to make smb. laugh, go, work). Another meaning of this verb — "to become" is observed in the context of a different syntactical structure, i.e. to make followed by an adjective and, a noun (to make a good wife) (to make + adj. + noun).

There are cases however, when the meaning of the word is ultimately determined by the actual speech situation in which the word is used. The meaning of the noun ring in "to give smb a ring" is determined by the actual speech situation. "Ring" may possess the meaning "a circlet of precious metal" or "a call on the telephone" depending on the situation in which the word is used.

Contextual associations formed by the speaker of a language are usually conditioned by extra-linguistic context (context of situation) which necessitates the use of certain words. When watching a play we naturally speak of actors who act the main parts. The words actor, act, part belong to one and the same thematic group which is called "Theatre".