Section 4. The complex nature of the word meaning. Theme 4.1. What is “meaning”? Polysemy.

Semantic structure of the word. Types of semantic components. Meaning and context.

Practical work no.8

Analysis of the collocability of the words.

Objectives: to distinguish between the different meanings of a word and the different variations of combinability.

Ex.1. Copy out the following pairs of words grouping together the ones which represent the same meaning of each word. Explain the different meanings and the different «sages, giving reasons for your answer. Use dictionaries if necessary.

smart, adj.

smart clothes, a smart answer, a smart house, a smart garden, a smart repartee, a smart officer, a smart blow, a smart punishment

stubborn, adj.

a stubborn child, a stubborn look, a stubborn horse, stubborn resistance, a stubborn fighting, a stubborn cough, stubborn depression

sound, adj.

sound kings, a sound scholar, a sound tennis-player, sound views, sound advice, sound criticism, a sound ship, a sound whipping

root. n.

edible roots, the root of the tooth, the root of the matter, the root of all evil, square root, cube root

perform, v.

to perform one's duty, to perform an operation, to perform a dance, to perform a play

kick, v.

to kick the ball, to kick the dog, to kick off one's slippers, to kick smb.

Ex.2. Read the following jokes. Analyse the collocability of the italicized words and state

its relationship with the meaning.

1. L a dу (at party): Where is that pretty maid who was passing our cocktails a while ago?

Hostess: Oh, you are looking for a drink?

L a d y: No, I'm looking for my husband.

2. P e g g y: I want to help you, Dad. I shall get the dress-maker to teach me to cut out gowns.

D a d: I don't want you to go that far, Peg, but you might cut out cigarettes, and taxi bills.

3. There are cynics who claim that movies would be better if they shot less films and more actors.

4. К i t t y: Is your wound sore. Mr. Pup?

Mr. Pup: Wound? What wound?

K i t t y: Why, sister said she cut you at the dinner last night.

Theme 4.2. How words develop new meanings. Types of connotations.

Causes of development of new meanings, the process of development and change of meaning. Similarity. Metonymy. Generalization of meaning. Specialization of meaning. Degradation and evaluation of meaning.

Practical work no.9

Defining the types of transference (Similarity. Metonymy). Singling out the denotative and connotative components of the synonyms and classifying them according to the type of connotation.

Objectives: to define the types of transference (Similarity. Metonymy) and to single out the denotative and connotative components of the synonyms classifying them according to the type of connotation.

Ex.1. Explain the logical associations in the following groups of meaning for the some words. Define the type of transference which has taken place.

1. The wing of a bird — the wing of a building; 2. the eye of a man — the eye of a needle; 3. the hand of a child — the hand of a clock; 4. the heart of a man — the heart of the matter; 5. the bridge across-the-river — the bridge of the nose; 6. the tongue of a person — the tongue of a bell; 7. the tooth of a boy — the tooth of a comb; 8. the coat of a girl — the coat of a dog; 9. Green grass — green years; 10. black shoes — black despair; nickel (metal) — a nickel (coin); 12. glass — a glass; 13.copper (metal) — a copper (coin); 14.Ford (proper name) — a Ford (car); 15.Damascus (town in Syria) — damask; 16.Kashmir (town in North India) — cashmere.

Ex.2. Analyse the process of development of new meanings in the italicized words in the examples given below.

1. put the letter well into the mouth of the box and let it go and it fell turning over and over like an autumn loaf. 2. A cheerful-looking girl in blue jeans came up to the stairs whistling. 3. They sat on the rug before the fireplace, savouring its warmth, watching the rising tongues of flame. 4. He inspired universal confidence and had an iron nerve. 5. As I walked nonchalantly past Hugo's house on the other side they were already carrying out the Renoirs.

Ex.3. In the following sentences, compare the various meanings of the word "nice"

1. Clarice, the daughter of somebody on the estate, a nice quiet well-mannered girl, who, thank Heaven, had never been in service before, and had no alarm ... (D. M.).

2. Leah is a nice girl, to be sure (Ch. В.).

3. "Well, what people!" she said. "We've just nice time for the train" (H.Wai.).

4. Realize that he was handsome, and could be extraordinary "nice" when he liked, and was really very clever, in his own critical way, and you see how many chances he had of being adored and protected (D. M).

5. Mrs. Blimber said: "Oh Dombey, Dombey, this is really very careless!" and piled them (the books) up afresh for him; and this time, by dint of balancing them with great nicety; Paul got out of the room, and down a few stairs before two of them escaped again (Dick).

6. He ventured to tell her in his clumsy way that if her heart were more warm towards him she would not be so nice about his handwriting and spelling (J.L).

Ex.4. Pick out the metaphors from the following word combinations.

1. A green bush; a green man; a green apple; green with envy.

2. Seeds of a plant; seeds of evil.

3. A fruitful tree; fruitful work.

4. A fruitless tree; a fruitless effort.

5. The root of a tree; the root of a word.

6. A blooming rose; blooming health.

7. A fading or faded flower; fading or faded beauty.

Ex.5. Pick out the word combinations where we can observe the transference of meaning.

1. The wings of a bird, of an aeroplane, of a mill; on wings of joy.

2. The foot of a man, of a hill, of a bed.

3. The neck of a girl, of a bottle.

4. Tongues of flame. The child's tongue is coated.

5. The legs of a dog, of a table.

6. Moscow is the heart of our country. My heart is beating with excitement.

7. The mouth of a pot, of a river, of a cave.