Lexis, Morphology & Semantics for English Language Teaching Exploration of semantic operations 2: Homonymy & Polysemy
Lexis, Morphology & Semantics for English Language Teaching
Exploration of semantic operations 2:
Homonymy & Polysemy
Exploration of semantic operationsx 4 lectures
Interrelationship between denotation, connotation & collocation
Analysis of lexical sets, semantic fields & sense relations
Synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy & meronymy
Common conceptions of English semantic operations among Chinese-speaking learners
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homonymy & polysemy- diachronic vs synchronic criteria
Homonyms- homophones & homographs- “syllabic-stress” homographs- absolute homonymy
Homonymic / Polysemic ambiguity- the bank problem- slang / taboo- the novel problem- the funny problem- zeugma
Construing homonymy / polysemy
Exploration of semantic operations 2
A homonym is (I):
– a spelling / sound that has two or more different meanings [ common sense / “folk linguistics” ]
(or)– an orthographic / phonological word that can be
used to represent two or more distinct lexical words[ morphology ]
(or)– a written / spoken (word) form that can be used to
express two or more distinct (word) senses[ lexical semantics ]
Exploration of semantic operations 2
A homonym is (II):
– a result of two or more originally distinct words having come, by accident, to be written / spoken in the same way,
i.e. historically, the distinct words:
a) originated from separate lexical sources,possibly different languages;
b) used to be differently spelt / pronounced;
c) lost, some time ago, the distinctions inspelling / pronunciation.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
SYNCHRONICpresent
A homonym is (I):
– a spelling / sound that has two or more different meanings
(or)– an orthographic /
phonological word that can be used to represent two or more distinct lexical words
(or)– a written / spoken form that
can be used to express two or more distinct senses
DIACHRONICpast present
A homonym is (II):
– a result of two or more originally distinct words having come, by accident, to be written / spoken in the same way,i.e. historically, the distinct words:
a) originated from separate lexical sources,possibly different languages;
b) used to be differently spelt / pronounced;
c) lost, some time ago, the distinctions inspelling / pronunciation.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
past present
diachronic synchronicparadigmatic syntagmatic
invisiblevisible
==========CONSTRUAL==========
Exploration of semantic operations 2
HOMONYMS
Jackson & Ze Amvela (2000:61)“… two or more words with the same shape. Although they have the same shape, homonymshomonyms are considered distinct lexemeslexemes, mainly because they have unrelated meanings and different etymologiesetymologies.”
Same spelling: homographe.g. lead (metal), lead
Same sound: homophonee.g. right, rite, write
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homonymic ambiguity / clashHomophones
know no wrap rapknows nose wring ringknew new write rightknight night wrote rote
( the silent “kk” / “ww” )
[ GreenwichChiswick ]
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homonymic ambiguity / clashHomophones
A: Why does the pony cough?B: Because he’s a little hoarse.
C: You said “my son”. Do you mean this new doll?D: No, (pointing at the sky) that’s my sun.
E: Why don’t you give her a ring?F: What? You want me to propose marriage to her?
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homophon-ishambiguity / clash
a parent apparenta hundred an’ eighty a hundred an’ ninetyice cream I scream
(HK Cantonese learners of English)three / free / feeOne, two, f(r)eeThree for free, and three for a fee
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homophonic ambiguity / clash
Wordplay
The knight in the night …
Hear it here. Write it right.
The bare bear ate eight hare’s hairs.
(More words to play with:http://www.fun-with-words.com/nym_homonyms.html
http://www.michellehenry.fr/homonym.htmhttp://a4esl.org/q/h/homonyms.html )
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homonymic ambiguity / clashHomographs
lead (metal) lead (leader)
wind (air) wind (twist)
wound (injury) wound (wind)
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homonymic ambiguity / clash“Syllabic-stress” Homographs
content (contain) content (happy)
entrance (entry) entrance (trance)
process (operation)process (operate) process (walk)
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Absolute HomonymyLyons, J. (1995) Linguistics Semantics. Cambridge University Press. p.55
Three conditions:– unrelated in meaning– identical in all forms (shape / sound /
grammatical forms)
– grammatical equivalence between identical forms
( any one of the conditions not satisfied
Partial HomonymyPartial Homonymy )
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Absolute Homonymy
Three conditions:– unrelated in meaning
• bat (ball game) bat (animal)
• bank (money) bank (river)
– identical in all forms• shape / sound / grammatical forms
– grammatical equivalence between identical forms
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Partially homonymous
(identical in shape/sound; grammatically equivalent)
Related in meaning?• violet (colour; noun) violet (flower; noun)
• orange (colour; noun) orange (fruit; noun)
• yellow (colour; adj) yellow (cowardly; adj)
• purple (colour; noun) purple (status/rank; noun)
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Lexical productivity
•violet (colour; noun) violet (flower; noun)
•orange (colour; noun) orange (fruit; noun)
? violetish / orangish ?vs
yellowish / purplish
•yellow (colour; adj) yellow (cowardly; adj)
•purple (colour; adj/noun) purple (status/rank; adj/noun)
Exploration of semantic operations 2
A polyseme is (I):
– a spelling / sound that has two or more different meanings [ common sense ]
(or)– an orthographic / phonological word that can be used to
represent two or more different meanings[ morphology ]
(or)– a written / spoken (word) form that can be used to
express two or more different (word) senses[ lexical semantics ]
Exploration of semantic operations 2
A polyseme is (II):
– a result of a lexical word having come to acquire one or more additional meanings/ senses,
i.e. historically, the lexical word with the (now) different meanings/senses:
a) originated from one lexical source;
b) used to have one meaning/sense;
c) came to acquire, some time ago, additional meanings/senses by semantic extension.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
SYNCHRONICpresent
A polyseme is (I):
– a spelling / sound that has two or more different meanings
(or)– an orthographic /
phonological word that can be used to represent two or more different meanings
(or)– a written / spoken form that
can be used to express two or more different senses
DIACHRONICpastpresent
A polyseme is (II):
– a result of a lexical word having come to acquire one or more additional meanings or senses,i.e. historically, the lexical word with its different meanings / senses:
a) originated from one lexical source;
b) used to have one meaning / sense;
c) came to acquire, some time ago, additional meanings / senses by semantic extension.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
A homonym is (I):
– a spelling / sound that has two or more different meanings
(or)– an orthographic /
phonological word that can be used to represent two or more distinct lexical words
(or)– a written / spoken form that
can be used to express two or more distinct senses
A polyseme is (I):
– a spelling / sound that has two or more different meanings
(or)– an orthographic /
phonological word that can be used to represent two or more different meanings
(or)– a written / spoken form that
can be used to express two or more different senses
How do you decide whether a word• has different meanings?
• expresses distinct meanings / senses?• is a homonym or a polyseme?
Exploration of semantic operations 2
In what way can we be certain whether a word has just one, or more than one, distinct sense?
In what way can we be certain that one sense of a word is, or is not, a semantic extension of another sense of the word?
How do you decide whether a word• has different meanings?
• expresses distinct meanings / senses?• is a homonym or a polyseme?
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homonymy (same-name)- seemingly one (orthographic / phonological) word- but in fact more than onein fact more than one (lexical) word
Polysemy (multi-sense)
- (by definition) one lexical word- but in fact more than onein fact more than one sense
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homonymic / Polysemic ambiguityThe Bank Problem
A: My house is on the bank.B: Do you get a good view of the river, or
the bankers’ goodwill?
C: This bank is very valuable.D: I would rather have money than blood.
E: Bank with us to get the best returns.F: I won’t bank on you.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homonymic / Polysemic ambiguitySlang / Taboo
cock roosterass donkeyrubber eraserpiss off kiss off
(flea flee)
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homonymic / Polysemic ambiguityThe identity test: “but”
Siu-ming’s coat is light, but Tai-ming’s is dark.Ray’s coat is light, but Roy’s is heavy.
? Siu-ming’s coat is light in colour, but Roy’s is heavy.? Ray’s coat is light in weight, but Tai-ming’s is dark.
?(?) Siu-ming’s coat is light in colour, but not Roy’s.?(?) Ray’s coat is light in weight, but not Tai-ming’s.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homonymic / Polysemic ambiguityThe identity test: “so”
Siu-ming’s coat is light, but Tai-ming’s is dark.Ray’s coat is light, but Roy’s is heavy.
? Siu-ming’s coat is light, so is Ray’s.?(?) Tai-ming’s coat is dark, so is Roy’s.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Polysemic ambiguityThe Novel Problem
the red book ??the red novel
the Little Red Book the red novel
the dirty book the dirty novel
the two books the two novels
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Polysemic ambiguityThe Funny Problem
This banknote looks a bit funny. It’s not like what we usually have.
I felt a bit funny after drinking the bottle of wine.
He went a bit funny after his wife passed away.
I don’t want to get involved in your funny business.
Do you meanfunny ha-hafunny ha-ha or funny peculiarfunny peculiar?
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Ways of seeing word meaningsZeugma
Mary was wearing a pair of sunglasses and a smile.
Jane opened the door and her heart to Peter.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Ways of seeing word meaningsZeugma
Mary was wearing a pair of sunglasses and a smile.
Jane opened the door and her heart to Peter.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Ways of seeing word meaningsZeugma
Mary was wearing a pair of sunglasses and a smile.
Jane opened the door and her heart to Peter.
The policeman caught the thief and a flu.
She smoked the salmon and the cigar.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Ways of seeing word meaningsZeugma
Mary was wearing a pair of sunglasses and a smile.
Jane opened the door and her heart to Peter.
The policeman caught the thief and a flu.
She smoked the salmon and the cigar.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Ways of seeing word meaningsZeugma
Mary was wearing a pair of sunglasses and a smile.
Jane opened the door and her heart to Peter.
The policeman caught the thief and a flu.
She smoked the salmon and the cigar.
The trader and his trading licence expired yesterday.
Let’s hang together or we’ll hang separately.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Ways of seeing word meaningsZeugma
Mary was wearing a pair of sunglasses and a smile.
Jane opened the door and her heart to Peter.
The policeman caught the thief and a flu.
She smoked the salmon and the cigar.
The trader and his trading licence expired yesterday.
Let’s hang together or we’ll hang separately.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Ways of seeing word meaningsZeugma
Mary was wearing a pair of sunglasses and a smile.
Jane opened the door and her heart to Peter.
The policeman caught the thief and a flu.
She smoked the salmon and the cigar.
The trader and his trading licence expired yesterday.
Let’s hang together or we’ll hang separately.
We’ll have friends for tea and chicken for dinner.
Time flies, but I don’t.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Ways of seeing word meaningsZeugma
Mary was wearing a pair of sunglasses and a smile.
Jane opened the door and her heart to Peter.
The policeman caught the thief and a flu.
She smoked the salmon and the cigar.
The trader and his trading licence expired yesterday.
Let’s hang together or we’ll hang separately.
We’ll have friends for tea and chicken for dinner.
Time flies, but I don’t.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
homonyms(same name / word-forms;
different lexical words)
synonyms(together names)
< construing similarity >
polysemes(multi meanings;
but one word)
antonyms(anti/against names)
<construing difference >
Construing meaning / Making sense / Building identity
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Partially homonymous?
(identical in shape/sound; not grammatically equivalent)
Related in meaning?• willing (adj) willing
(verb+ing)
Partially homonym-ish?
(Not identical in shape/sound; nor grammatically equivalent)
Related in meaning?herself her self(reflex / emph pron) (poss. pron + noun)
Exploration of semantic operations 2
will (v.) – O.E. *willan, wyllan "to wish, desire, want" (past tense
wolde), from PIE *wel-/*wol- "be pleasing." The unusual use as a future auxiliary was already developing in O.E. The implication of intention or volition distinguishes it from shall, which expresses or implies obligation or necessity. Contracted forms, especially after pronouns, began to appear 16c., as in sheele for "she will." The form with an apostrophe is from 17c.; won't for will not is first recorded mid-15c. as wynnot, later wonnot (1584) before the modern form emerged 1667. Willing is O.E. willendliche.
will (n.) – O.E. will, willa, related to *willan "to wish" (see will (v.)),
from P.Gmc. *weljon. The meaning "written document expressing a person's wishes about disposition of property after death" is first recorded c.1380.
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=will&searchmode=none
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Partially homonymous?(identical in shape/sound; not grammatically equivalent)
Related in meaning?• willing (adj) willing
(verb+ing)
The crowd is willing Joan to win the fight.
Joan is willing / wills herself to win the fight.
Joan will win / is able to win the fight tomorrow.
Joan is willing to win the fight tomorrow.
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Partially homonymous?(identical in shape/sound; not grammatically equivalent)
Related in meaning?• willing (adj) willing
(verb+ing)
The crowd is willing Joan to win the fight.
Joan is willing / wills herself to win the fight.
Joan will win / is able to win the fight tomorrow.
Joan is willing to win the fight tomorrow.
boring (adj) boring (verb+ing)
Exploration of semantic operations 2
[ Bauer, L. (1983) English Word-formation. CUP. P.212: ]
Compounds of other form classes are … rare and of extremely low productivity. Compound … pronouns are the -self forms and somebody, anyone, etc. compound conjunctions include … even and/or.
Partially homonym-ish?
(Not identical in shape/sound; nor grammatically equivalent)
Related in meaning?herself her self(reflex / emph pron) (poss. pron + noun)
Exploration of semantic operations 2
[ Bauer, L. (1983) English Word-formation. CUP. P.212: ]
Compounds of other form classes are … rare and of extremely low productivity. Compound … pronouns are the -self forms and somebody, anyone, etc. compound conjunctions include … even and/or.
A previous e810 participant asked: “Did you say function words do not form new words?”
Partially homonym-ish?
(Not identical in shape/sound; nor grammatically equivalent)
Related in meaning?herself her self(reflex / emph pron) (poss. pron + noun)
Exploration of semantic operations 2
PRONOUNS (function words)
I, you, she, he, it, we, you, theyme, you, her, him, it, us, you, themmyself, yourself, herself, himself, yourselves,
themselves(poss pron): mine, yours, hers, his, yours, theirs(poss det): my, your, her, his, its, our, your, their
New words? Where?
Partially homonym-ish?
(Not identical in shape/sound; nor grammatically equivalent)
Related in meaning?herself her self(reflex / emph pron) (poss. pron + noun)
Exploration of semantic operations 2
“heir sylfa”“heir sylfa/selfes” “selfes”“herself” “the self”
Which one was the new word (i.e. newly formed lexical word): “herself” or “self”?
Partially homonym-ish?(Not identical in shape/sound; nor grammatically equivalent)
Related in meaning?herself her self(reflex / emph pron) (poss. pron + noun)
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Ways of seeing word meanings
To construe or not to construe Homonymy / Polysemy
piggy bank small bank tall bankHigh Street bank friendly bankbank(ing) hours bank holiday
data bank blood bank sperm bank
river bank steep bank snow bank
dark bank (of clouds) fog bank
bank with bank on
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Semantic / lexical field
redorangeyellowgreenblue
indigoviolet
Cognitiveframes / domain
Semantic / lexical field
hungchaangwong
lukchinglaam
zi
Cognitiveframes / domain
Ways of seeing word meaningsTo construe or not to construe Homonymy / Polysemy
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Ways of seeing word meanings
To construe or not to construe Homonymy / Polysemy (of “ish”)
blue (adjective)blue (noun)blue (verb)bluish (adjective): tending towards blue
purplish (adjective): rather purple in colour
green (adjective)greenish (adjective): somewhat greengreen (noun)
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Ways of seeing word meanings
To construe or not to construe Homonymy / Polysemy
blue (adj): colour of clear sky/sea; sad/depressedblue (noun):blue (verb): bluish (adjective): tending towards blue
purplish (adjective): rather purple in colour
green (adj): colour of growing grass; immaturegreenish (adj): somewhat greengreen (noun):
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Ways of seeing word meanings
To construe or not to construeCross-cultural Homonymy / Polysemy
blue in Chinese & Japanesehttp://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/blue
green in Chinese & Japanesehttp://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/green
blue, green & qing in Chinese & Englishhttp://www.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/Lindict/
Exploration of semantic operations 2
Homonymy & polysemy- diachronic vs synchronic criteria
Homonyms- homophones & homographs- “syllabic-stress” homographs- absolute homonymy
Homonymic / Polysemic ambiguity- the bank problem- slang / taboo- the novel problem- the funny problem- zeugma
Construing homonymy / polysemy